# Apology to the mod **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2000, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285 "2000-08-06T01:24:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![steeljaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@steeljaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steeljaw)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/1 "2000-08-06T01:24:25Z")
I’m sorry manhattan. I launched a feeble attempt at [mutiny](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=635039#post635039) in the pit. I just thought that the bus thing was pretty damn funny, but I guess you guys run a tight ship around here. I couldn’t even gain support in the damn pit. I think my revolutionary days are over. So I hope we can just put this behind us. Oh, and just so there is a general question in the post… What’s the difference between further and farther? I would look it up but my snake ate my dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/2 "2000-08-06T01:46:09Z")
The _further_ your post count rises, the _farther_ you’re taken seriously 😉 ---
**Author:** ![steeljaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@steeljaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steeljaw)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/3 "2000-08-06T01:48:58Z")
I honestly don’t get it. What part of speech is each word? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/4 "2000-08-06T01:52:03Z")
Named “Farther” instead of “Further”, Ken Kesey’s bus would have just sounded like an experiment in fuel economy. ---
**Author:** ![steeljaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@steeljaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steeljaw)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/5 "2000-08-06T01:54:12Z")
huh? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/6 "2000-08-06T01:59:09Z")
Now that I’m through being a smartass, a usage note in the AHD confirms what I would have said: > [@](#): > > … farther should be used only for physical distance, as in “They went farther down the road”. Further should be used in most other senses, especially when referring to degree, quantity or time … Condensing a bit, it also notes that writers since Shakespeare’s time have ignored the distinction between the two words. ---
**Author:** ![steeljaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@steeljaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steeljaw)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/7 "2000-08-06T02:01:24Z")
Very concise. I am now enlightened. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/8 "2000-08-06T08:46:43Z")
I will note that I would not recommend ignoring the difference when taking the SAT II Writing test. You are taking it this November, right? Or is that only the high schoolers I work with every day, until this all becomes my entire world…? ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/9 "2000-08-06T18:57:31Z")
“Farther” means “more far” “Further” means “more forth” A good rule of thumb is if you are talking about a physical action it is “farther”. ---
**Author:** ![steeljaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@steeljaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steeljaw)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-to-the-mod/28285/10 "2000-08-07T07:26:36Z")
So, is my apology accepted or what?