a further two months ---farther?

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z7655431

Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2016
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
We intend to stay here for a further two months.
-Can I use the word of farther instead?
 
'Farther' is sometimes used for physical distances, while 'further' is often used for figurative or metaphorical distances, although this is not an absolute rule.

Also, 'further' can have a meaning of 'additional' (as in your example sentence) that 'farther' doesn't.
 
You're never wrong with further, but you may be with farther IMO.
 
I'd say 'farther' is only used for physical distances.
 
I'd say 'farther' is only used for physical distances.


And even then "further" works just as well. I don't see any need for "farther". A 15th century spelling mistake.;-)

farther (adv.)
15c. alteration of Middle English ferther (c. 1300), a variant of further (adv.). There is no historical basis for the notion that farther is of physical distance and further of degree or quality.
Online Etymology Dictionary.
 
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