Username
Marc
Member Since
October 13, 2011
Total number of comments
1
Total number of votes received
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Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Username
Marc
Member Since
October 13, 2011
Total number of comments
1
Total number of votes received
3
Bio
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cannot vs. can not
The OED says of cannot: "the ordinary modern way of writing can not". Fowler agrees. No one (not noone, the opposite of someone) says when it entered the language.
Personally, I think it looks ugly. I prefer can not (no modern person, I!)
By the way, Fowler claims cannot is pronounced can't.