Grammarian-Bot
May 16, 2006, 12:59 AM
Q2. What's the difference between the following two degrees of far and old;
 
1. far		farther		farthest
2. far		further		furthest
 
 
1. old		older		oldest
2. old		elder		eldest
RickJ
May 16, 2006, 03:44 AM
Re "far":
 
 
[This] involves real and abstract distance; that is, when you are talking about inches, feet and miles—things that can be measured with a ruler—use “far, farther, farthest.” When your distance is abstract—not measurable in a physical way—use “far, further, furthest”:
 
I drove farther than I did yesterday.
I am further along than Jack when it comes to math. [source (http://www.writersdigest.com/archiveitemdisplay.asp?id=1034&secondarycategory=Fiction+Subhome+Page)] 
 
Re "old":
Elder and eldest are chiefly used for comparison within a family.  Also, "elder" cannot be placed before than. [source (http://vionet.hit.bg/comparadj_rules.html)]