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Farther vs. Further

Have you wondered whether there is a right way and a wrong way to use the words farther and further? The different uses of the two words can be subtle. Let’s have a closer look.

Farther: Refers to physical distance only.

Examples:
We had to walk farther than the map indicated.

Reno is farther from San Francisco than from Sacramento.

Further:
1. Moreover; in addition; to a greater extent.

Examples:
We need to discuss this further.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

2. May be used for physical distance although farther is preferred.

Example:
We had to drive further.

3. To help forward, advance, or promote a work, undertaking, cause, etc.

Example:
Elisa had more desire to further her own interests than to further the mission of the organization.

Pop Quiz

Choose the correct word in each sentence. Scroll down to view answers.

1. The mountain peak was farther/further away than she expected.

2. Farther/Further negotiations should help the two sides reach an agreement.

3. I agree with the addition to the project as long as there are no farther/further delays.

4. I refuse to walk one step farther/further.

5. The purpose of the United Nations is to farther/further the cause of world peace.

Pop Quiz Answers

1. The mountain peak was farther away than she expected. -OR- The mountain peak was further away than she expected. (Either farther or further is correct but farther is preferred.)

2. Further negotiations should help the two sides reach an agreement.

3. I agree with the addition to the project as long as there are no further delays.

4. I refuse to walk one step farther. -OR- I refuse to walk one step further. (Either farther or further is correct but farther is preferred.)

5. The purpose of the United Nations is to further the cause of world peace.

 

 

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Posted on Friday, July 18th, 2008, at 4:57 pm

Compel vs. Impel

Both compel and impel contain the idea of using physical or other force to cause something to be done.

Compel means to constrain someone in some way to yield or do what one wishes.

Example: to compel a debtor to pay
Example: Fate compels us to face danger and trouble.

Impel means to provide a strong motive or incentive toward a certain end.

Example: The wind impelled the ship.
Example: Curiosity impels her to ask questions.

It might help, in some instances, to think of impel as the carrot and compel as the stick.

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Posted on Thursday, June 19th, 2008, at 12:31 am

Ring vs. Rang vs. Rung

You can tell when to use ring, rang, or rung by whether you need the present, past, or past participle (used with has or have) form.

Present: ring

Example: I always ring the bell after I knock.
Example: He rings twice before entering.

Past: rang

Example: I rang the bell after I knocked.
Example: He rang twice before entering.

Past Participle: has or have rung

Past participles are used with all perfect forms of a verb.

Present Perfect Form

Examples: I have rung the bell. She has rung the bell.

Past Perfect Form

Examples: I had rung the bell. She had rung the bell.

Future Perfect Form

Example: I will have rung the bell by noon if the automated system is still malfunctioning.

Conditional Perfect Form

Example: I would have rung the bell if the automated system had still been malfunctioning.

The present participle of ring is ringing. Present participles are used with “to be” verbs.

Examples: I am ringing the bell. She was ringing the bell. We will be ringing the bell.

 

Pop Quiz

1. He rings/rangs/rungs the bell to get the students’ attention.

2. We ring/rang/rung the bell but no one answered the door.

3. She had ringed/rang/rung the bell three times before I was near enough to hear it.

4. They are ringing/ranging/runging the bell to start trading in the stock market.

 

Answers

1. He rings the bell to get the students’ attention.

2. We rang the bell but no one answered the door.

3. She had rung the bell three times before I was near enough to hear it.

4. They are ringing the bell to start trading in the stock market.

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Posted on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008, at 4:55 am

Lead vs. Led

lead a metal element (pronounced like red)
lead present tense of led (pronounced like seed)
led guided, past tense of to lead


Pop Quiz

1. He lead/led the horse to water.
2. She tested the water for lead/led.
3. Will the new CEO lead/led by example?

Answers:

1. led
2. lead
3. lead

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Posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008, at 12:46 am

Principal vs. Principle

If you decide to take the free Grammar Mastery Quiz, you’ll eventually come to #40, which has turned out to be confusing for many.

Question 40: The department’s principal/principle concern is the safety of all employees.

First, let’s figure out what part of speech the word is in the sentence above. Since it describes concern, which is a noun, it must be an adjective. The word principle is used only as a noun. Principal may be either a noun or an adjective. When it is an adjective, principal means “first or highest in rank, importance, value, etc.; chief; foremost”

Let’s double check. Can we substitute any or all of these definitions for principal in the sentence?

The department’s first/chief/foremost concern is the safety of all employees.

Obviously the answer is yes, so the correct answer is, “The department’s principal concern is the safety of all employees.

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Posted on Monday, April 21st, 2008, at 9:06 pm

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