further vs. farther

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Ryan Evans - 17 Oct 2005 00:48 GMT

It drives me crazy.
"further" does not mean "farther"

RE

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Einde O'Callaghan - 17 Oct 2005 10:30 GMT

> It drives me crazy.
> "further" does not mean "farther"

Actually it does mean the same, but it also has a few additional usages
- particularly in contexts not connected with distance, e.g. further
education.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

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John Ramsay - 18 Oct 2005 03:03 GMT

> It drives me crazy.
> "further" does not mean "farther"
>
> RE

As adverbs the distinction has been lost.

I have a 23 year-old dictionary that
lists each as a non-standard version
of the other.

Used as a verb, many people will still say
'further' our cause rather than' farther'.

Next could be the past tense of shine. I read an
otherwise highly literate novel last week
but the author kept saying 'shined' for
'shone'. Very irritating.

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credoquaabsurdum - 19 Oct 2005 09:43 GMT

I've noticed that Americans seem to fixate on this point more than the
British. Our grammar gurus certainly do. Does anyone teach the
distinction to their students?

As for "shine," there's been a minor usage controversy over the past
forms for a long time. The British seem to insist on correct usage more
than Americans do here.

> > It drives me crazy.
> > "further" does not mean "farther"
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> but the author kept saying 'shined' for
> 'shone'. Very irritating.

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / October 2005

further vs. farther