cannot and can not

[Ma. Lourdes]

Good Morning!

I need an help in the proper usage of cannot and can not.

Thanks

 

[iZicci]

no much difference between them, i think.

 

[tedtmc]

Can-not is written as one word.

 

[Jack8rkin]

What I was taught, "cannot" is the right word. "Can not" was ever considered a mistake in our tests.

 

[bds51]

Dear Guest,
can't, can not, cannot are all correct. Can't and can not are more common in spoken English and cannot is more common in formal writing. Normally, we use contractions when 'not' is not stressed and accordingly, in North American English, we stress the not in cannot and can not. However, many British tend to schwa the 'not' in 'cannot'.

 

[tedtmc]

It is not just being formal or Br E, you cannot write 'can not'. Obviously there is no difference when you say it.