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- differences - When to use cannot versus cant? - English Language . . .
When is it best to write "can't" versus writing "cannot"? Are they interchangeable in every situation?
- Why is “cannot” spelled as one word? - English Language Usage . . .
Why is “cannot” spelled as one word whereas other similar constructions such as “do not,” “will not,” “shall not,” “may not” and “must not” are spelled as two words (unless they are contracted as “
- Can not vs. cannot - English Language Usage Stack Exchange
8 Both are acceptable, but cannot is now more common OED has this much to say about cannot: (ˈkænət) the ordinary modern way of writing can not: see CAN v Notwithstanding, in some situations ambiguity may arise if you write can not, and the difference might not be a minor one Compare: I cannot make love to you
- double negation - Is cannot not say standard English? - English . . .
9 "cannot not say" would only rarely be used in English, and only in very specific circumstances In particular, this is not a simple double negative "cannot not" does not mean the same as "can", it means "must" It also carries a connotation that not saying is the expected or default action
- grammaticality - Is it incorrect to say, Why cannot. . . . ? - English . . .
Cannot is the only negative form that contains not rather than -n't Theoretically, since it is a single word, you can say why cannot you without a problem My theory is that modern English speakers don't want to put cannot before the subject because it contains not and sounds like can not
- You cannot eat your cake and have it or have your cake and eat it?
The irony of the idiom is that one would expect to be able to eat the cake that he or she owned In that case, possession of the cake would logically come before usage of the cake: You cannot have your cake and eat it, too Some other interesting observations: Paul Brians, Professor of English at Washington State University, points out that perhaps a more logical or easier to understand
- What’s the difference between cannot and can’t? [duplicate]
Can anyone explain the difference between cannot and can’t is? Is the only difference that cannot is more formal than can’t is?
- conditional perfect - Right way to use Cannot but help - English . . .
1 There is no correct way to use "cannot help but " There are two traditional and synonymous idioms, "cannot but [do something]" and "cannot help [doing something] " Those who say "cannot help but" are conflating the two (in much the same some people conflate "irrespective" and "regardless" to create the nonsensical "irregardless")
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