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Horse Feathers

Posted by Platypus on September 08, 2004

In Reply to: Horse Feathers posted by Bruce Kahl on September 07, 2004

: : : : Hello,
: : : : It's true that "further" when pronounced with "far-ther" means physically further? And, when pronounced "further" means it could be mentally further?

: : : : please forgive my english at expressing things a bit complicated..

: : : These are two different words, with different spellings. In the most correct usage, "farther" means at a greater physical distance. "Further" is less literal. The distinction is often ignored, and most English speakers probably don't even know about it.

: : You're right. I didn't realise that. But what then is the difference between 'further away' and 'farther away'? Is there one? Is it even correct to say 'farther away'? Farther always sounds more formal, or more old-fashioned to me. In fact 'farther' sounds softer, really it's a more romantic word, 'further' more functional. 'Farther' isn't something you hear people say very often any more - here anyway.

: Great skit with Groucho et al.
: Couldn't resist placing this here:

: Frank: It isn't right for a college to buy football players.

: Wagstaff: It isn't, eh? Well, I'll nip that in the bud. How about coming along and having a nip yourself?

: Frank: Anything further, Father?

: Wagstaff: Anything further, Father? That can't be right. Isn't it 'Anything Father, further?' The idea! I married your mother because I wanted children. Imagine my disappointment when you arrived.

Farther refers to physical space. Further refers to temporal space. Furthermore, further is accepted in reference to physical space, however, farther is not accepted when making reference to time or progression. As in, there will be further delays, not farther delays. To make this more confusing, farther finds it's way into temporal relationships throught metaphor. We will meet farther down the road of life. For example:

members.tripod.com/ ~Synergy_2/lyrics/farther.html

as for further away/ farther away. Dinner is further away than you think. The diner is farther away than you think.

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