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 the more commonly used form, whereas can not is less common and typically used for emphasis or stylistic reasons.
- Both cannot and can not mean the same thing, but cannot is the preferred choice in formal writing.
- Can not can sometimes suggest the idea of a choice not to do something when used with a negative emphasis.
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