getting further and further

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "getting further and further" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that is increasingly distant or escalating over time. Example: "As the deadline approached, the project seemed to be getting further and further behind schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

"Home plate was getting further and further away," Wright said.

The New York Times - Sports

Q Five years ago my husband and I were getting further and further into debt.

The Guardian - Money

The ground, he told, his friend Stanley Jackson, seemed to be getting further and further away.

The Guardian - Sport

As Google spreads out from search pages, he says, its people are "getting further and further away from their expertise".

The Economist

I kept getting further and further away from the guy I really was, creating this superhero identity.

The New York Times - Arts

"I was getting further and further from what I wanted to do, but in steps that seemed logical at the time," she remarks, ruefully.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

It just got further and further from my mind".

The New York Times

With each interval they feel heavier, and I get further and further behind.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Live completely on your own and your guesses will get further and further away from reality.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"If you get further and further from the median, you get socially isolated".

The New York Times

When you press on this golf course, it just seems to get further and further away from you".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "getting further and further" to emphasize a gradual and continuous increase in distance, both physical and metaphorical. For example, "The deadline was approaching, and the team was getting further and further behind schedule."

Common error

While "getting further and further" is a valid phrase, avoid using it repetitively in close proximity within your writing. Opt for synonyms or rephrase sentences to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "getting further and further" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the continuous and progressive nature of an action or state. As Ludwig suggests, it describes something becoming increasingly distant. It often modifies verbs of motion or states of being.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "getting further and further" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression in English to describe a state of increasing distance or separation over time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While commonly found in news and media contexts, it's essential to be mindful of overusing it and consider more formal synonyms in specific professional settings. This phrase effectively conveys the idea of a gradual and continuous progression away from a particular point or state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasingly distant

Replaces the repetitive structure with a more concise adjective.

progressively receding

Emphasizes the act of moving back or away gradually.

ever-widening gap

Focuses on the increasing separation between two points.

steadily diverging

Highlights a gradual movement in different directions.

continually diminishing

Focuses on something becoming smaller or less significant over time.

constantly separating

Stresses the continuous nature of the distancing.

gradually alienating

Implies a growing sense of detachment or estrangement.

drifting further apart

Uses a more metaphorical and less precise sense of separation.

increasingly out of reach

Highlights something becoming unattainable over time.

sliding into the distance

Emphasizes a smooth and often uncontrolled movement away.

FAQs

How can I use "getting further and further" in a sentence?

Use "getting further and further" to describe a process where something is increasingly distant either literally or figuratively. For example: "The end of the tunnel was "getting further and further" away as we crawled on."

What's a good alternative to "getting further and further"?

Alternatives include "increasingly distant", "progressively receding", or "steadily diverging", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "getting further and further" formal or informal?

The phrase "getting further and further" is generally considered suitable for neutral to informal contexts. For more formal writing, consider using "increasingly distant" or other more sophisticated synonyms.

What does it mean when something is "getting further and further" away?

It means that the distance, whether physical or metaphorical, between two things is continuously increasing. For instance, a goal could be "increasingly out of reach" or a memory "progressively receding".