cannot-can't

[sophie_1003]

In the above contraction which n is being taken out, the n in can or the n in not? TIA

[Quizmonster]

Well, Tearinghair, I'm some years older than you are and quite a few things that plagued my generation of schoolboys have now disappeared. For example, to-day and to-morrow were written thus...ie with a hyphen. Writing an address on a letter or envelope was a minefield of commas and full stops, whereas now neither of these is anywhere in sight in addresses. I could go on, but let us just be grateful that - as you say - language DOES get simplified as time goes on.