The guidelines below explain how to use further and farther.
Use further
- as an adjective meaning “more” or “additional”
- Do you have any further questions?
- as a verb meaning “to continue, encourage, foster or promote”
- The loans program allows Canadians to further (continue) their education.
- We must further (encourage, foster, promote) co-operation between our two countries.
- as an introductory adverb meaning “furthermore” or “in addition”
- Further, I wish to congratulate our volunteers for their outstanding service to our community.
- as an adverb when referring to progress or figurative distance (not measurable in steps, inches, kilometres, etc.)
- Jack took the IT courses he needed to help him go further in his career.
Use farther
- as an adjective meaning “more distant”
- They sailed to the farther shore before heading back.
- as the comparative form of “far” when referring to distance
- Port Elgin is farther east than we were told.
- as an adverb when referring to physical distance (measurable in steps, inches, kilometres, etc.)
- How much farther can we travel on half a tank of gas?
NOTE: Most sources list farther and further as synonyms. However, they suggest using further in an abstract (or figurative) sense and farther in a physical sense. When choosing between further and farther, you need to consider whether the distance is physical or figurative. For example:
- I’m exhausted, I can’t go any farther.
[means I can’t walk another step] - I’m exhausted, I can’t go any further.
[means I can’t do anything more]
Use furthermore
- as an introductory adverb meaning “in addition”
- Furthermore, I wish to congratulate the volunteers who make the Canada Games possible.
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