Is it normal to be bothered by the word "cannot"?

53% Normal
17 Comments

I know it's correct grammar so I can't be mad at people for using it, but it seriously irritates me that it even exists. I mean, why do those words even get combined like that? It looks really bad. There's plenty of other word combinations that deserve to become compounds before "can" and "not" do. But what really irritates me is that we already have a much better shortening of "can not" in "can't". That's a much less ugly, less clumsy way of saying it. "Cannot" makes me feel icky, but "can not" and "can't" are just fine. Does anyone else feel my pain? Will anyone else join the "Can Not" Revolution, our mission being to remove "cannot" from the English lexicon? Whenever you see someone write "cannot", tell them to use "can not" instead and to spread the word of our mission. Soon, everyone will agree that combining these words in the first place was stupid. Many will brand us as terrorists, but we know we work towards the greater good. Is this a future you can fight for?

Voting Results
53% Normal
Based on 55 votes (29 yes)
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Comments ( 17 )
  • lillypoppy
    12 years ago

    carrot

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  • dappled
    12 years ago

    Both "can not" and "cannot" are acceptable. I'll join your cause, though, because I prefer "can not" too, even though it's now much less common.

    "Can not" allows for better sentence meaning too as the word "not" can be a modifier in a separate construct. For instance, "He can not only play football but also rugby". The "not" and the "only" form their own construct. If we said "He cannot only play football but also rugby" then it looks syntactically clumsy.

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    • [Old Memory]
      12 years ago

      So therefore can not has a different meaning to cannot? Maybe that's why both exist?

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      • dappled
        12 years ago

        Precisely, Miss Tottykins. It can have a slightly different meaning with modifiers. And now I must away to bed as it is 4am and I cannot / can not get enough sleep as it is. :P

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        • [Old Memory]
          12 years ago

          Hehe sweet dreams dappled zzzzzz.

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          • dappled
            12 years ago

            I had dirty dreams, which are the sweetest of all. :D

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            • [Old Memory]
              12 years ago

              Haha awesome. I love dirty dreams. I orgasm in real life. Without touching myself. I've read about it on the internet and their not sure what exactly causes it in women but I'm certainly not going to complain. Have a good day dappled!!

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  • Who_Fan4Life
    12 years ago

    You have no life based on this statement:

    "Will anyone else join the Can Not Revolution, our mission being to remove "cannot" from the English lexicon?"

    Please, it's a word, and it's in the English DICKtionary, so let it go.

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  • lc1988
    12 years ago

    I don't see what the big deal is. I'm used to writing cannot since using contractions in scientific writing is considered unprofessional.

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  • flutterhigh
    12 years ago

    Imagine "cannot" is an archaic term for "prostitute".

    "I, cannot, shove zucchini into my butthole."

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  • alv1592
    12 years ago

    Don't worry about words and other unimportant things, you'll get high blood pressure, blood sugar, etc. There are much bigger problems in the world.

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  • ssj4gotenks
    9 years ago

    It's often used for emphasis, and letting the receiver know you're not some random l33tsp34k kid.

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  • GoraIntoDesiGals
    12 years ago

    I cannot be bothered by that.

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  • [Old Memory]
    12 years ago

    I prefer cannot. It's pronounced differently to can not. Say it. Cannot is easier. I also think it looks more professional than can't.

    It's there because it evolved from can not because it's easier to say.

    You say you don't like it because it's two words joined together. Does this mean you also dislike nightmare, birthday, fireman, therefore, yesterday and any other of the thousands of words that are composed of two words?

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  • Shackleford96
    12 years ago

    I was wondering about the usage of these words just the other day. Yours sounds like a righteous cause. TILL DEATH!

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  • AngAnders112
    12 years ago

    "Because I can't not
    Because I can't not
    Because I cannot walk without my crutches
    Because I can't not
    Because I can't not
    Because I can't help wonder why you ask me"

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