Further versus farther
Which sentences are correct?
- She delved further into the mystery.
- She delved farther into the mystery.
- He ran further today than yesterday.
- He ran farther today than yesterday.
- She has further to go in her studies.
- She has farther to go in her studies.
- How much further until we get there?
- How much farther until we get there?
The correct sentences are A, D, E, and H.
Why?
The word further indicates a figurative distance. The word farther denotes a literal distance.
Which sentences are correct?
- His research led him further down the rabbit hole.
- His research led him farther down the rabbit hole.
- The mouse crawled further down the rabbit hole.
- The mouse crawled farther down the rabbit hole.
The correct sentences are I and L.
Why?
In the first pair of sentences, “down the rabbit hole” represents a metaphorical distance, not an actual distance, so further is the correct term.
In the second pair of sentences, “down the rabbit hole” represents a real, measurable distance, so farther is the correct term.
Isn’t it amazing how swapping out a single vowel changes the meaning of the whole phrase?
