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      • 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.”
      www.grammarly.com/blog/commonly-confused-words/cannot-or-can-not/
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  2. What to Know. 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.

  3. Feb 1, 2024 · 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.

  4. Mar 4, 2021 · 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.

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  5. May 9, 2024 · Both “cannot” and “can not” are used in British English. “Cannot” is more common and generally preferred in formal writing, while “can not” might appear in contexts where emphasis on the negation is required.

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  6. When you’re writing cannot, always spell it as a single word to be correct. Although can not is an acceptable form that you can also use, it’s usually only in more relaxed settings. If you’re writing for a British audience, people in the UK prefer cannot over can not.

  7. Cannot is the most common expansion of can't (i.e., it expands to one word not two). Cannot can also be expanded to the two-word version 'can not,' but this is usually for emphasis.

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