a further two months ---farther?

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z7655431

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We intend to stay here for a further two months.
-Can I use the word of farther instead?
 

bhaisahab

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Skrej

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'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.
 

Tdol

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You're never wrong with further, but you may be with farther IMO.
 

Rover_KE

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I'd say 'farther' is only used for physical distances.
 

bhaisahab

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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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