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July 29, 2024
How to write a plot twist in your story
When executed carefully, a plot twist has the power to shock and dazzle your reader. Learn how you can incorporate one into your writing.
Learn moreWithin English grammar, nuances often lie within the smallest details. “Cannot” and “can not” might seem interchangeable, but a subtle difference sets them apart. While “cannot” offers simplicity and conventionality, suitable for most situations, “can not” provides emphasis or contrast in specific contexts. See how mastering the use of “cannot” and “can not” adds finesse to your writing.
“Cannot” is a compound word, formed by merging “can” and “not.” It’s the preferred and widely accepted version in contemporary writing. In formal writing, such as academic papers, reports, or business communications, “cannot” remains the norm, offering a clean, concise expression of impossibility or inability:
On the other hand, “can not” is a two-word formation, where “can” and “not” are distinctly separate. It’s employed when you want to emphasize the negation, separating “can” and “not” for added emphasis or clarity—especially on the written page:
In formal writing, such as academic papers, reports, or business communications, “cannot” remains the norm. It offers a clean, concise expression of inability or prohibition without any confusion. Conversely, in creative writing, dialogue, or when emphasizing a unique context or contrast, “can not” can be used to drive home a specific point or to showcase the additional capabilities despite an initial negation.
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Learn MoreHowever, both cannot and can not also readily lend themselves to the common contraction “can’t.” This is the most casual usage of the form, and by far the most popular:
“Can not” also has a common alternate use: it forms a correlative conjunction. You may remember that correlative conjunctions are two-part connectors that join sentence elements of equal importance. Here, the two words “can not” are commonly combined with the “not only…but also” construction. This is a key differentiator of the “cannot” vs. “can not” debate, as evident in the following examples:
Remember, consistency is key in writing. Whichever you choose, maintain uniformity throughout your text to ensure clarity and coherence. “Cannot” offers simplicity and conventionality, suitable for most situations, while “can not” provides emphasis or contrast in specific contexts—as well as its use in correlatives. Finally, “can’t” voices a different sentiment in your text or writing. For more tips on how to write accurately, learn the difference between “lightening” and “lightning,” understand gerund phrases and how they work, or brush up on popular tenses.
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