Farther vs further: use farther for distance, further for "more" and "extra"

The simple rule

Here is a rule that is right in almost every case.

• Farther = more distance. Think of the word far: it has far inside it. Is it much farther to the beach?
• Further = more of something, or a next step. We need further information. Let's discuss this further.

The only one-way trap is the last three rows: farther never means "more" or "also". Further can do the job of both words, which is why many writers simply use further everywhere.

One memory trick: far is inside farther, so link it to distance. If the meaning is not distance, reach for further.

Farther: physical distance

Use farther when you can measure the distance in metres, miles or steps.

• London is farther from Edinburgh than Manchester is.
• She threw the ball farther than anyone else.
• We can't go any farther today. My legs are tired.
• The bus stop is farther down this road.

It works as an adverb (go farther) and as an adjective (the farther shore), and it has a superlative: farthest. Which of the three houses is farthest from the school?

Cambridge Dictionary says that further means the same as farther when you are talking about distance. In other words, using further for a distance is not an error. Using farther for "more" is.

If you are writing for an American teacher or editor, farther for physical distance is the safer choice, because American style guides keep the two words more separate. British writers often use further for everything.

Further: more, extra and next

Further is the wider word, and you will see it often in writing and in business English.

Extra or more

• For further information, please contact us.
• There are no further questions.
• The delay caused further problems.

Degree or progress

• We need to look into this further.
• The company has moved further towards its goal.
• Nothing could be further from the truth.

Time

• She did not stay a moment further. (formal)
• Further back in history, people used different tools.

As a verb

To further something means to help it progress. She took a course to further her career. The charity aims to further public understanding of science. Farther can never be a verb.

As a linking word

Further, besides and in addition start a new point in a formal text. Further, the report does not explain the cost.

Where the rule bends

Some phrases do not follow the neat "distance versus degree" split, and they cause most of the arguments.

• "I can't walk any farther / further." Both are accepted, because the meaning is physical distance.
• "Money goes further." This means money lasts longer or buys more. Use further: this is not a distance you can measure.
• "Farther along in the book." Pages are a physical distance, but many writers prefer further. Both appear in good writing.
• "Further down the road." This is accepted as a distance, and it is also a common way to say "later". Use whichever sounds natural.

When the distance is clearly literal and you want to be safe, choose farther. When it is about progress, extra or time, choose further. When you are not sure, choose further: it is almost never wrong.

A similar pattern exists with far. The comparative is farther or further, and the superlative is farthest or furthest. The furthest form is also accepted for distance.

British and American English

The two varieties treat the pair a little differently.

In everyday speech, you will hear further in both varieties for almost everything. You will hear farther mostly from American speakers talking about literal distance.

This is a style question, not a grammar emergency. If an examiner or editor sets a style (for example, American style in an essay for a US university), follow it. In a message to a colleague, you will not be corrected for either word.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Wrong: I need farther information about the course.

Right: I need further information about the course. Information is not a distance, so farther does not fit.

Wrong: She wants to farther her studies.

Right: She wants to further her studies. Only further can be a verb.

Wrong: Let's discuss it farther at the meeting.

Right: Let's discuss it further at the meeting. Discussion has no physical distance, so use further.

A safe habit for writing is this: ask "could I measure this in metres or miles?" If the answer is yes, farther is fine and further is acceptable. If the answer is no, use further only.

In speaking, you rarely have time for that test. The easiest plan is to say further in most sentences, and to use farther only when you are talking about a clear distance, such as a road, a trip or a throw. Most listeners will not notice either choice, and nobody will think your English is wrong.

Say it clearly

In speech, the two words sound similar. The first sound is the difference: FAR-ther and FUR-ther. The stress is on the first syllable in both words, and the middle sound is a soft th, as in father.

Practice with these sentences. Say each one aloud, and exaggerate the first syllable the first time:

1. How much farther is it?
2. I'd like to discuss this further.
3. The hotel is further than I expected.
4. We cannot take this any further.

If your th sound is a problem, the TH sound page shows how to place your tongue. For more on how stress shapes the way a word sounds, see word stress in English.

Quick quiz

Choose the best word. Answers are below.

1. How much ______ is the airport?
2. For ______ details, visit our website.
3. She walked ______ than her sister.
4. He studied ______ to improve his skills. (a verb meaning to advance)
5. I want to talk about this ______ tomorrow.
6. The ______ you go, the colder it gets.

Answers: 1. farther or further. 2. further. 3. farther or further. 4. furthered (the verb is further). 5. further. 6. farther or further.

If you got questions 2, 4 and 5 right, you have the part that matters most. The word further is correct in all six; farther is correct only where the meaning is distance.