[etni] Re: the continuing saga of "can not"
- From: "sbshai" <sbshai@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:42:53 +0200
Here comes a (self-proclaimed) referee:
Parallelism notwithstanding, this referee rules in favor of clarity.
Wouldn't most of us prefer sentence A (as follows) rather than B?
(A) I can post it if I choose to, but I can also choose not to post it.
(B) I can either post it or I can not post it; the choice is mine.
If we opt for clarity AND conciseness, we can simply say: I can either post
it or not [post it]!
Granted, this is more a question of style than grammar, but shouldn't we
eliminate possible confusion wherever we can?
We can, or we can not; your turn to choose!
Shavuah tov -- whatever your preference is!
Batya
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Reid" <reidnomad@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Rivka Lewenstein" <rlewen@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, 27 November, 2010 8:15 PM
Subject: [etni] the continuing saga of "can not"
> Re:
>> Sorry, David, but your first example (I can not post this if I so choose)
>> sounds absolutely wrong to me. I would never use "can not" in that way. I
>> would say, "I don't have to post this if I so choose." Anyone else care
>> to
>> chime in on that?
>>
>> All the best,
>> Rivka
>>
>
> Hi, Rivka and other readers,
>
> Three quick points concerning your reply. But first, I apologize in
> advance
> for capitalized words. They're supposed to be italicized words, not
> shouting. This forum seems to eliminate most formatting, leaving few other
> options for italics. (Suggestions, anyone?)
>
> (1) What Rivka is saying is that one CAN avoid the use of "can" altogether
> by rephrasing the sentence. Granted. However, it is another matter
> altogether whether one MUST rephrase it. If not, then we revert to the
> original question concerning the cases when one DOES use "can" and a
> negative.
>
> (2) It might help to give a broader context to the situation. Something
> like:
> "Harry, what are you doing with that paper?"
> "Well, I can post it if I want. However, there's another choice. I can NOT
> post it. It's my choice." (with a slight emphasis on "not".) (Parallelism
> would suggest using "can not" rather than "don't have to.")
>
> (3) Yes, I can imagine that a person may have his/her personal style, and
> would not use "can not" in this way. However, I have heard literate native
> English speakers use it in this way. It is thus a matter more of personal
> style than of grammar.
>
> David Reid
>
>
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