- differences - When to use cannot versus cant? - English Language . . .
Generally, people use can't in speech and informal writing, and cannot or can not in formal writing or very formal speech Also (as @Kris points out in a comment), cannot might be used when you need to carefully distinguish it from can't in speech
- What is the difference between can not, cannot, and cant?
The phrase "can not" may mean "cannot" or "can't," but it also may mean "able not to," which is much different than "not able to" as it conveys the ability to not do something rather than the inability to do it
- 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 “
- Cannot vs. Can Not - English Language Usage Stack Exchange
So, "cannot" means something (denoted S) is impossible, while "can not" means the inverse of that something (denoted !S) is possible These two statements do not imply each other Of course, the second statement could be rendered much more clearly as "The variable can be not initialized," by moving the "not" next to the word being negated
- The usage of can not vs. cannot in mathematics
So here it’s about minimizing ambiguity: can not permits two interpretations, while cannot permits only one Such care is critical in the language of mathematics As another example, West would tell you that in mathematical discourse, both “x is a minimum” and “x is a minimal” are valid utterances, but they mean different things
- 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
- 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?
- 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
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