Topmusicanswers
Both cannot and can not are acceptable spellings, but the first is much more usual. You would use can not when the "not" forms part of another construction such as "not only." For example: These green industries can not only create more jobs, but also promote sustainable development of the land.
- Can not or Cannot correct usage?
- Whats the difference between can not and Cannot?
- Is Cannot one word or two?
- Can not or Cannot Oxford?
Can not or Cannot correct usage?
Both cannot and can not are perfectly fine, but cannot is far more common and is therefore recommended, especially in any kind of formal writing. Can't has the same meaning, but as with contractions in general, it is somewhat informal.
Whats the difference between can not and Cannot?
Here is a quick summary: Can't is a contraction of cannot, and it's best suited for informal writing. In formal writing and where contractions are frowned upon, use cannot. It is possible to write can not, but you generally find it only as part of some other construction, such as “not only . . . but also.”
Is Cannot one word or two?
Is cannot one word or two words? The answer is one word – most of the time. Cannot and can't have the same meaning, but can not appears differently in a sentence. Read on to find examples of situations in which cannot or can't would be acceptable, and when can not might cross your path.
Can not or Cannot Oxford?
In contemporary English, both “cannot” and “can not” are acceptable, though they're generally used in different ways. The combined form, as you point out, is more common (Lexico, formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online, says it's three times as common in the Oxford English Corpus).
