I have to admit I decided to write this post because I really wanted to know the difference between \u201ccan not\u201d and \u201ccannot\u201d for myself. \u00a0I was proof reading some of my own writing recently and I realized I was not 100% sure on the difference usage of \u201ccan not\u201d and \u201ccannot\u201d. \u00a0Even as a native speaker or English, an ESL teacher, and a person who has studied Linguistics at the graduate level, I did not know the difference between these two words off the top of my head*. \u00a0I figured many of you out there may not know the difference either, so I did some investigating for all of us. \u00a0What I found was a little contradictory and I realized that the reason that I don\u2019t know the difference between \u201ccan not\u201d and \u201ccannot\u201d is that 99% of the time the difference doesn\u2019t matter. Either that or I was sick the day my teacher taught this lesson in my elementary school English class \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
If you look up the word \u201ccannot\u201d in a dictionary you will find the definition is \u201cthe negative form of can\u201d and it may also note that \u201ccannot\u201d is the contract form of \u201ccan not.\u201d \u00a0(Note: \u201ccan\u2019t\u201d is also a contracted form of \u201ccan not\u201d.) \u00a0Based on this information it appears there is no difference between the words “can not” and “cannot.”\u00a0 In my investigations on this subject I also read these two spellings (\u201ccannot\u201d and \u201ccan not\u201d) are for the most part interchangeable**, but the more common spelling is \u201ccannot\u201d and that this should be used except when someone wants to be emphatic***, then use \u201ccan not.\u201d \u00a0But that is not the whole of the story!<\/p>\n
Although it appears in general most people do not see a notable difference between \u201ccan not\u201d and \u201ccannot\u201d; there is in fact a difference. Here is an explanation of the the difference between these two word: If you \u201ccan not\u201d do something, then you \u201ccan\u201d also do it, but if you \u201ccannot\u201d do something then it means the thing is impossible to do.<\/p>\n
For example: I can<\/em> walk or I can not<\/em> walk to school, but I cannot<\/em> fly to school (unless I take an airplane).<\/p>\n Here is another way to look at this difference:<\/p>\n can<\/strong> + (something) = the ability to<\/strong> do<\/strong> (something)<\/p>\n can not<\/strong> + something = the ability to not<\/strong> do<\/strong> (something cannot<\/strong> + something = the inability<\/strong> to do (something) Okay, I think I understand the difference now and I hope you do too! \u00a0There is a very small difference in \u201ccan not\u201d and \u201ccannot.\u201d \u00a0I will try to use these two words correctly from now on and hopefully you will too. \u00a0I can not believe I didn\u2019t know this before!<\/p>\n *off the top of my head = this is an expression that means: with quick recollection or knowing something without having to think about it *** emphatic = showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have to admit I decided to write this post because I really wanted to know the difference between \u201ccan not\u201d and \u201ccannot\u201d for myself. \u00a0I was proof reading some of my own writing recently and I realized I was not 100% sure on the difference usage of \u201ccan not\u201d and \u201ccannot\u201d. \u00a0Even as a…<\/p>\n
\n(This means you have the option to do something or not.)<\/p>\n
\n(This means no matter how hard you try to do something it is actually impossible.)<\/p>\n
\n** interchangeable = two things are capable of being put or used in the place or each other<\/p>\n