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Is "can not" one word or two?

N

neonerd

Diamond Member
MS word accepts both, but my physics teacher took 10 points off my lab because i spelled it "cannot"

He just picks on me because my grade is about 7 points higher than the second best student in the class 😛
 
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
either and both... depends on the sentence.
Click to expand...

"If a superball is dropped, it cannot bounce back up to the height from which it started from"
 
I always used "can not" but I suppose "cannot" is correct. Sounds pretty lame that your teacher took off points for that. Should have a little talk with him at the bike racks after class!
 
Originally posted by: neonerd
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
either and both... depends on the sentence.
Click to expand...

"If a superball is dropped, it cannot bounce back up to the height from which it started from"
Click to expand...

Sure it can, if the floor it strikes is moving upward at the time 🙂
 
He just picks on me because my grade is about 7 points higher than the second best student in the class
Click to expand...

That means you're still getting an A. I'd be satisfied with knowing I was correct rather than making a point of confronting my teacher on it. Sure, you might get the 10 points back this time but it won't raise your grade if you're already the top scorer in the class and may simply give him a perceived reason to mark you off more points on another occasion when you do make a legitimate mistake. He has all the power in deciding what your ultimate grade is, so pick your battles and don't fight when you're unarmed and don't have a weapon to strike back with.
 
The correct way in all cases is to use two separate words. Laze and popular use of cannot has given it general acceptance. Other words such as altogether = all together are examples as well.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Originally posted by: neonerd
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
either and both... depends on the sentence.
Click to expand...

"If a superball is dropped, it cannot bounce back up to the height from which it started from"
Click to expand...

Sure it can, if the floor it strikes is moving upward at the time 🙂
Click to expand...

Relative to the ball's initial velocity.
 
Other words such as altogether = all together are examples as well.
Click to expand...

Bad example, since "altogether" is a legitimate word and has a completely different meaning than "all together," they mean "completely" and "in unison" respectively. Ex. they are altogether different words, we all together can agree with that 🙂

And popular usage is how words come to be an accepted part of the English language, otherwise we'd still be speaking like the pilgims in a Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and saying "thee" and "thou" and such. Heck, maybe the OP should write in Middle English just to see the teacher's reaction.

1: The ministre and norice unto vices
2: Which that men clepe in englissh ydelnesse,
3: That porter of the gate is of delices,
4: To eschue, and by hire contrarie hire oppresse,
5: That is to seyn, by leveful bisynesse,
6: Wel oghten we to doon al oure entente,
7: Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us hente.
8: For he that with his thousand cordes slye
9: Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe,
10: Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye,
11: He kan so lightly cache hym in his trappe,
12: Til that a man be hent right by the lappe,
13: He nys nat war the feend hath hym in honde.
14: Wel oghte us werche, and ydelnesse withstonde.
15: And though men dradden nevere for to dye,
16: Yet seen men wel by resoun, doutelees,
17: That ydelnesse is roten slogardye,
18: Of which ther nevere comth no good n' encrees,
19: And syn that slouthe hire holdeth in a lees
20: Oonly to slepe, and for to ete and drynke,
21: And to devouren al that othere swynke,
22: And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse,
23: That cause is of so greet confusioun,
24: I have heer doon my feithful bisynesse
25: After the legende, in translacioun
26: Right of thy glorious lif and passioun,
27: Thou with thy gerland wroght with rose and lilie, --
28: Thee meene I, mayde and martyr, seint cecile.
 
Originally posted by: silverpig
The correct way in all cases is to use two separate words. Laze and popular use of cannot has given it general acceptance. Other words such as altogether = all together are examples as well.
Click to expand...



Not true!
 
Originally posted by: silverpig
The correct way in all cases is to use two separate words. Laze and popular use of cannot has given it general acceptance. Other words such as altogether = all together are examples as well.
Click to expand...



Furthermore, "laze" is a verb.



"Laziness" would be the correct usage.
 
i cannot go to the bathroom because all the urinals are taken.
i can not go to the bathroom if i choose not to.

two seperate meanings. determine what meaning you intended, then determine if you used "cannot" correctly.
 
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