http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5349 No, the title to this blog is not a variation on the song, "Tea For Two," or some new musketeers' vow to one another.  But it is a little ditty: Cannot is one word, not two; a and lot are two words, not one. The word "cannot" dates back to the Old English "ne cunnan," and is traced back to 1400. It's modern cousin "can't" appeared in 1706, according to the online etymology dictionary (http:www.etymonline.com). Of course, the definition of "cannot" is the negative of the verb "can." For example, you can or you cannot. Now it can be, or it can't. But cannot survives as one word, not "can not" in this usage. "Cannot" is unique because it has survived the ages. In contrast, consider should not and could not as contractions: shouldn't and couldn't. Of course there's the contraction for shall not, shan't, which is pretty unique, just as won't (will not) is. The point is, when writing, use "cannot" as a single word when meaning the inability to do something. Don't use two words in that sense: can not. Now about the words "a" and "lot." They are two words, not one. Many writers incorrectly write "alot." Don't do it because you cannot in English. However, there is the word that sounds like the two words: allot, which means to give out or distribute. But "a lot" means many or several or numerous. Aficionados of English call "a lot" a dead metaphor that is passable in conversation, but not preferred in writing. Use the word "many" or "much" instead. Remember that a "lot" is a parcel of land with so many square feet. The square footage varies from lot to lot. "Lot" can also mean your fortune, overall circumstances or condition in life. For example, "He had a bad lot in life." Hence, this is the metaphor for many or much in the expression "a lot." I cannot stay any longer. I have a lot...eh, much to do. One for two! Two for one!   No, the title to this blog is not a variation on the song, "Tea For Two," or some new musketeers' vow to one another.  But it is a little ditty: Cannot is one word, not two; a and lot are two words, not one. The word "cannot" dates back to the Old English "ne cunnan," and is traced back to 1400. It's modern cousin "can't" appeared in 1706, according to the online etymology dictionary (http:www.etymonline.com). Of course, the definition of "cannot" is the negative of the verb "can." For example, you can or you cannot. Now it can be, or it can't. But cannot survives as one word, not "can not" in this usage. "Cannot" is unique because it has survived the ages. In contrast, consider should not and could not as contractions: shouldn't and couldn't. Of course there's the contraction for shall not, shan't, which is pretty unique, just as won't (will not) is. The point is, when writing, use "cannot" as a single word when meaning the inability to do something. Don't use two words in that sense: can not. Now about the words "a" and "lot." They are two words, not one. Many writers incorrectly write "alot." Don't do it because you cannot in English. However, there is the word that sounds like the two words: allot, which means to give out or distribute. But "a lot" means many or several or numerous. Aficionados of English call "a lot" a dead metaphor that is passable in conversation, but not preferred in writing. Use the word "many" or "much" instead. Remember that a "lot" is a parcel of land with so many square feet. The square footage varies from lot to lot. "Lot" can also mean your fortune, overall circumstances or condition in life. For example, "He had a bad lot in life." Hence, this is the metaphor for many or much in the expression "a lot." I cannot stay any longer. I have a lot...eh, much to do. One for two! Two for one!   en-us I have enjoyed reading your blogs. Thanks for making this topic interesting. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5349/#c_20210 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5349/#c_20210 I have enjoyed reading your blogs. Thanks for making this topic interesting.