List of English Words With Disputed Usage - F

F

• farther and further – Many prescriptivists adhere to the rule that farther only should refer to matters of physical distance or position, while further should be reserved for usages involving time or degree (as well as undisputed descriptions of moreover and in addition).
  • Disputed usage: San Jose is further from L.A. than Santa Barbara.
  • Disputed usage: L.A. was a couple of hours farther from home than I expected.
  • Disputed usage: If her fever increases any farther, I will call the doctor.
  • Undisputed usage: I would like to discuss the issue further at a later time.

• fortuitously – Used by some interchangeably with fortunately, strictly speaking fortuitousness is a reference to an occurrence depending on chance. M-W notes that use of the word in sense of "fortunate" has been in standard use for at least 70 years and notes that the sense of "coming or happening by a lucky chance" is virtually unnoticed by usage critics.