English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
CANNOT, CAN NOT, CAN’T, CANT
I ~can not~ allow you into the house (nonstandard).
I *cannot* allow you into the house (standard).
NOTE: Although American English permits both, “cannot” is the common standard form in formal writing.
We ~cannot~ only talk about this but also do something to help the situation (nonstandard).
We *can not* only talk about this but also do something to help the situation (standard).
The words “can” and “not” should only be spaced when they are part of separate but adjacent phrases.
I ~cant~ allow them into the house (nonstandard).
I *can’t* allow them into the house (standard).
“Can’t” is the contracted form of “cannot” but it should not be used in formal writing.
If you refer to moral or religious statements as “cant”, you are criticising them because you think the person making them does not really believe what they are saying:
Politicians are known for their hypocritical *cant*. ✔️
GAB
