Viceidol  +  468913 Sat, 26 Jan 08 03:03 AM I cannot do it. I can't do it. I can not do it. Is the last sentence which uses "can not" (with a space between can and not) correct? Thank you for you help! Viceidol Joined on Wed, Jul 11 2007 Taiwan Regular Member 540

	Philip  +  468921 Sat, 26 Jan 08 03:39 AM  Viceidol wrote: I cannot do it. I can't do it. I can not do it. Is the last sentence which uses "can not" (with a space between can and not) correct? Thank you for you help! I don't approve, but it is my understanding that "can not" is not correct. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,738 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

	Avangi  +  468925 Sat, 26 Jan 08 03:55 AM  Philip wrote: I don't approve, but it is my understanding that "can not" is not correct. Hi Phillip, Curious about the "but."  It led me to expect the opposite conclusion.  Do you mean you disapprove of "can not" being considered incorrect? Best regards,   - A. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,207 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier Regards

	Philip  +  468930 Sat, 26 Jan 08 05:06 AM  Avangi wrote:  Philip wrote: I don't approve, but it is my understanding that "can not" is not correct. Hi Phillip, Curious about the "but."  It led me to expect the opposite conclusion.  Do you mean you disapprove of "can not" being considered incorrect? Best regards,   - A. I do not agree that "can not" should be considered incorrect. Philip Regards

	Yoong Liat  +  469033 Sat, 26 Jan 08 01:41 PM I've found the following, which answers the question. AskOxford: Can 'cannot' also be written as two words 'can not'? Both cannot and can not are acceptable spellings, but the first is much more usual. You would use can not when the 'not' forms part of another construction ... www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/cannot - 37k - Cached - Similar pages Yoong Liat Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006 Veteran Member 6,757 Constructions, Spelling