[Lazarus] Error messages: cannot versus can't

[Reinier Olislagers]

On 17/10/2014 12:59, Mark Morgan Lloyd wrote:
> Wearing my "native English speaker" hat, a part of the problem is that
> many of the traditional rules derive from the Victorian Era but were
> critiqued by Fowler in "Modern English Usage"... which despite being
> published in 1926 is still treated by many as the ultimate reference.
Yep, heard that, too.

> However, the overriding consideration is that many users of development
> tools will select English as the working language, even if it is not the
> language that they are most comfortable with. I'd suggest that the
> "bottom line" is that if somebody such as yourself finds the more formal
> "cannot" more intelligible than the "can't" contraction, then that's the
> one to use. Or, of course, vice versa.
> 

Thanks.
Apparently the Microsoft Manual of Style (sorry Giuliano, seem to hit
only MS references) suggests contractions could hinder comprehesion  for
non-native speakers, which can IMO indeed be an important factor in
deciding what to use.