the further the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the further the" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in comparative contexts to indicate a relationship between two variables, often suggesting that as one increases, so does the other. Example: "The further the distance, the more difficult it becomes to maintain communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then you released a Marika Papagika album through Mississippi Records, The Further The Flame The Worse It Burns Me.

Vice

The further the better".

The New York Times

"The further the better," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Holidays have to be far away, the further the better.

The Guardian - Travel

The longer the rectangle, the further the electrons must travel.

Stanford University

The further the water tables sink, the more power it takes to pump water up.

The New York Times - Magazine

The further the Terminator franchise extends itself, the less sense it makes.

The Guardian

The further the game goes, the better chance he has to keep his team in there".

The New York Times - Sports

The longer the son's blond hair grows, the further the dad's hairline recedes.

The New Yorker

"The further the distance it has travelled, the bigger the carbon penalty.

The New Yorker

The harder you press on the force sensor, the further the shot goes.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the further the" to effectively illustrate cause-and-effect relationships based on increasing distance or progression.

Common error

Avoid breaking the parallel structure when using "the further the". Ensure both clauses following "the" maintain grammatical symmetry to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the further the" functions as a correlative construction, creating a proportional relationship between two elements. As Ludwig AI highlights, this construction is common in expressing how one variable changes in relation to another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

28%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the further the" is a grammatically correct and frequently used correlative construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to establish a proportional relationship, often between distance and another variable, and is suitable for neutral contexts. While versatile, it's most common in news, academic writing, and scientific contexts. When using "the further the", ensure parallel sentence structure to avoid ambiguity. The variety of examples analyzed by Ludwig shows the phrase’s consistent utility in demonstrating cause-and-effect scenarios based on progression or distance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the more the

Replaces 'further' with 'more' to generalize the proportional relationship without specifying distance.

the greater the

Substitutes 'further' with 'greater' to broaden the scope beyond physical distance, encompassing other measurable quantities.

the more distant the

Replaces 'further' with 'more distant' to emphasize separation.

the longer the

Specifies a relationship based on duration rather than distance.

the higher the

Focuses on vertical distance or hierarchical level instead of horizontal distance.

as something increases, so does something else

Offers a more verbose explanation of the correlative relationship.

in proportion to

Highlights the direct proportionality between two elements.

to the extent that

Expresses the relationship as a degree or limit.

correspondingly

Indicates a parallel or matching increase or progression.

the closer the

Expresses an inverse relationship, implying decreasing distance or separation.

FAQs

How can I use "the further the" in a sentence?

Use "the further the" to show how one thing changes in relation to an increase in another, particularly distance. For instance, "the further the distance, the weaker the signal" illustrates a direct relationship between distance and signal strength.

What phrases are similar to "the further the"?

Alternatives include phrases like "the greater the", which can be used to show similar proportional relationships, or "the more the" for a more general comparison.

Is it correct to say "the further, the better"?

Yes, saying "the further, the better" is grammatically correct and conveys a preference for increased distance or extent in an informal context. However, for clarity, ensure the context makes the compared elements obvious.

What’s the difference between "the further the" and "the more the"?

"The further the" specifically relates to distance or progression, while "the more the" is a more general comparative construction applicable to quantities, qualities, or degrees. Use "the further the" when spatial or sequential distance is relevant.