You ________ post and edit your threads.

Steven D · #1 (**permalink**) 22-Mar-2005, 12:42

You may post new threads
You may post replies
You may post attachments
You may edit your posts

Who thinks it's incorrect to use "can" in place of "may" in the above sentences?

Anyone?

Tdol · #2 (**permalink**) 22-Mar-2005, 20:46

I don't.

Steven D · #3 (**permalink**) 22-Mar-2005, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

I don't.

That's great!

What a relief......

But just one thing - For you, the meaning remains the same with either one in this case? Yes?

Springfairy556 · #4 (**permalink**) 14-Feb-2008, 13:06

In my opinion it doesn't really matter they both mean the same thing but "may" is a more formal way of saying it, so if you want to be formal say "may" if not say "can"

Anglika · #5 (**permalink**) 14-Feb-2008, 19:03

They are not quite the same - You may post and edit = you are permitted to do this; you can post and edit = it is possible to do these things.

rewboss · #6 (**permalink**) 14-Feb-2008, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anglika

They are not quite the same - You may post and edit = you are permitted to do this; you can post and edit = it is possible to do these things.

This, of course, is what our parents tell us, but it's awfully common to ask "Can I...?" when asking permission.

That aside, in this specific case the forum software actually makes it impossible to do anything you are not also permitted to do, so from that point of view, "You can..." would be just as true as "You may..."

Some people think "may" can sound a little condescending: "I, magnaminous and gracious as I am, do hereby grant you, cowering mortal, out of the goodness of my own heart, permission to post a new thread."