Two words often confused are farther and further. Is it farther down the road or further? Do you have to read further in the book or farther? Do you further your education? Yes! Let's take a look at the meanings for these two words.

FARTHER denotes physical advancement in distance.

FURTHER denotes advancement to greater degree, as in time.
 
 

The correct answers to the above examples follow:

It is farther down the road. (For distance physically traveled.)

You read further in the book. (To a greater degree than where you are now.)

You further your education. (To a greater degree than what you have now.)
 
 
 

 

Practice:
 
 

1. How much __________ do you plan to drive tonight?

 
2. I've reached the end of my rope with this dog chewing up the carpet. I just can't go any _____________.

 
3. Do you have any _______________ plans for adding on to the building?

 

4. That's a lot _____________ than I want to carry this machine and tripod!
   



5. The _____________ that I travel down this road, the ____________ behind schedule I get.
     


6. How much ___________ do you intend to take this legal matter?
     


7. I want to ___________ my career by taking some management courses.

 


8. It's not that much ____________ to the gas station.
     


9. How much ____________ do I have to read in this text?
    


10. How much __________ do I have to run, Coach?

Answer Key:

1. farther
2. further
3. further
4. farther
5. farther, further
6. further
7. further
8. farther
9. further
10. farther

For more Language Arts, Grammar lessons on words often confused, see:

Two, Too, and To - Who Knew? 
Lie and Lay - Whatever! 
How Does the Effect Affect You? - Another Grammatical Riddle
Sit or Set - Does It Matter? 
Lose It or Loose It - There's a Difference
 
 

Submitted by:  © Elaine Ernst Schneider  is a freelance writer and a teacher. She has been writing since high school and has published articles, songs, and children's work. Presently, Elaine is a curriculum author for Group Publishing and also writes the City Songs column for www.newcolonist.com ezine.

E-mail Elaine

Feedback: Sept. 22, 2004 Dear Ms. Elaine,  I did a google search for the difference between farther and further and your site came up.  Thanks for your help, the site was very clear! I guess I can now write correctly at a 9th-grade level, should help me out with the Ph.D. I'm starting on this term :-) Regards, JH