Farther and Further

What's the difference in meaning between farther and further?

Why do we use farther in the first sentence and further in the second?

How much farther is it to the school?
I don’t want to discuss it any further.

Use farther for physical distance: How much farther is it to the school?

Use further for metaphorical/figurative distance (non-physical): I don’t want to discuss it any further.

One simlpe way to remember which is which is, farther has the word far in it, so use farther for a distance.

When it's not clear if you are talking about a physical distance or non-physical distance, use further.

Farther

The station is farther away than I thought.

Brighton is farther south than London.

Which planet is farthest from the sun?

Further

I have no further points to make.

This report needs further investigation.

I hope we have no further delays.

Now decide if farther or further should be used in these sentences:

• 1) The ___ we travel, the more tired I get.
  
  farther
  further
  
  
• 2) Try not to ___ complicate the matter.
  
  further
  farther
  
  
• 3) Let's discuss it ___ next week.
  
  farther
  further
  
  
• 4) There's no need for ___ introductions.
  
  further
  farther
  
  
• 5) Lucy swam ___ than Paco.
  
  farther
  further