Master confusing words with ease
Can not vs. Cannot
Can not
/kæn nɑt/Examples:
We can not continue until the issue is resolved.The concert can not start without the lead singer.She can not finish the project by tomorrow's deadline.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Cannot
/ˈkænət/Examples:
John cannot attend the meeting tomorrow.She cannot find her favorite book anywhere.We cannot allow the project to fail.
Synonyms:
This word has no synonymsAntonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Cannot is a single word formed by joining can and not together, indicating a single negative action or ability.
- Can not is technically correct but less common in modern English; it focuses on the possibility of choosing not to do something rather than an inability to do it.
- When youve made a decision to not do something, can not may be used, but cannot' is the preferred and more natural choice in most cases.
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