Further vs Farther｜Difference, Meaning & Examples
Choosing between farther or further can be challenging because they’re both adverbs or adjectives that mean “at a greater distance.” For example, “further from home” and “farther from home” are both correct. The difference between further and farther is that “further” has three additional meanings:
- “More” (adverb or adjective)
- “Additionally” (conjunctive adverb)
- “To advance” or “to promote” (verb)
| Definition | Correct word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| At a greater distance | Further or farther | To train for the triathlon, Alana rode her bike a little further each day.
Joaquin’s apartment is farther from campus than Dan’s apartment. |
| More | Further | After further research, Conner learned that cardinals mate for life. |
| Additionally | Further | Kansas City has the world’s first women’s professional soccer stadium. Further, its NFL team won the Super Bowl. |
| To advance | Further | This inspiring documentary will further your knowledge about rainforests. |
The tips and examples below will improve your understanding of when to use further and farther. And when you’re writing with further or farther, the QuillBot Grammar Checker will help you avoid errors.
Farther or further for distance
Further and farther are both correct word choices for distance. They can both be used as comparative adjectives that mean “greater in distance.” The distance can be literal or figurative. For example, the distance between Paris and London is literal. The distance between two people’s perspectives is figurative.
As adjectives, further and farther modify nouns. Further and farther are also correct adverbs for “greater in distance” when they modify verbs or adjectives.
The 1996 Romeo and Juliet film is further from the original play than the 1968 film. (figurative distance)
Painted lady butterflies migrate farther each year than monarch butterflies. (literal distance)
Claire and Arlo grew further apart after Claire graduated. (figurative distance)
This distinction is more common in American English than British English.
Further vs farther for more (adjective or adverb)
Further and farther are not always interchangeable. “Further” (not “farther”) is the correct choice when you need an adjective that means “additional” or an adverb that means “more.”
- Customers receive farther discounts when they join the mailing list.
- Customers receive further discounts when they join the mailing list.
- The biologist explained farther that chameleons have panoramic vision.
- The biologist explained further that chameleons have panoramic vision.
Further vs farther as a verb
Another difference between further and farther is that “further” can be a verb, but “farther” cannot. As a verb, “further” means “to advance” or “to promote.”
- Cyrus took a course on generative AI to farther his career.
- Cyrus took a course on generative AI to further his career.
- This workshop will farther your understanding of pollinators.
- This workshop will further your understanding of pollinators.
Further vs farther as a conjunctive adverb
“Further” is also a short version of “furthermore,” but “farther” is not. Both “further” and “furthermore” are correct synonyms for the transition words “moreover” and “additionally.” As a transition word, “further” is a conjunctive adverb that you can use as a sentence starter.
- The animated program Adventure Time delighted millions of viewers. Farther, it won several Emmy Awards.
- The animated program Adventure Time delighted millions of viewers. Further, it won several Emmy Awards.
- The animated program Adventure Time delighted millions of viewers. Furthermore, it won several Emmy Awards.
- Matcha has become a popular alternative to coffee; further, it may have health benefits.
- Raul grows nine varieties of tomatoes. Further, he bakes his own bread.
Have you tried the QuillBot Grammar Checker for help with commas? It will instantly show you where you need commas in any piece of writing.
Frequently asked questions about farther and further
- How do you use further in a sentence?
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Use further to compare distances (e.g., “After driving a little further, we found the hotel”). When used in this sense, the words further and farther can be used interchangeably.
Also use “further” when you mean “more” (e.g., “Zoe did further research”), “to advance” (e.g., “The fundraiser will further a great cause”), or “furthermore” (e.g., “The moon is full, and further, Mercury is in retrograde”).
When you’re unsure whether further is the right word, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid mistakes.
- Is it further or farther from the truth?
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An idea can be further or farther from the truth. Both words are correct ways to show distance.
However, some style guides recommend “further” for distances that are figurative, such as the distance between two ideas.
When you’re unsure whether farther or further is the correct choice, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid mistakes.
- Is it look no further or farther?
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According to some style guides, look no further is better than look no farther (e.g., Students who need a quiet place to study should look no further than the library”).
“Further” usually refers to distances that are figurative rather than literal.”
“Farther” usually describes distances that are literal (e.g., “We walked farther and saw a hawk’s nest”).
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using words like further and farther correctly.
- Is it further along or farther along?
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Further along and farther along are both correct ways to say “to a more advanced point.”
Some style guides recommend “farther” for physical distances (e.g., “As Sean hiked farther along the trail, he noticed more wildlife”) and “further” for literal distances (e.g., “As the semester moved further along, the students became more confident”).
A QuillBot Grammar Check can also help ensure you’re using further or farther correctly.
- Is it farthest or furthest?
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Farthest and furthest are both correct superlative adjectives that mean “most distant.” They are closely related to the adjectives farther and further.
Some style guides suggest that “farthest” is a better word for geographic distances (e.g., “During track practice, Gayle ran the farthest of anyone else on the team”).
When you’re uncertain about whether to use farthest or furthest, a QuillBot Grammar Check can help you avoid mistakes.
