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Waiting for reviewApostrophes and possessivesCandidate #9914 · from the Puritas diff · puritas-full-2026-10-19

can'stcanst

Apostrophes added or expanded, mostly possessives: gods → god's. Approve one at a time: some places are plurals.

Puritas changed it
207 times in 89 works
Consistency
84.8% (207 of 244)
Reach if approved
~256 places (estimated)
MorphAdorner
Agrees: canst
Matches
Exact word, any case
In our text
244 times in the 7,099 works compared
Other readings
None
Taken into joins
None

If approved, its rationale reads: “Suggested by the Puritas diff (207 changes in 89 works, 84.8% consistent).”

Where Puritas made the change (8 of 207)

Our text, as printed and with the candidate applied
  1. Printed
    VIII. BUT 'tis Thou alone, O Lord, that can'stcanst raise our Souls from the World, and make them ambitious in searching after Thee …
    With rule
    VIII. BUT 'tis Thou alone, O Lord, that can'stcanst raise our Souls from the World, and make them ambitious in searching after Thee …

    Richard Allestree · The Whole Duty of Divine Meditation · p. 125 · Open in the reader

  2. Printed
    … Joh. 1. 7. and 2. 1, 2. Tho thou haſt been never ſo vile, and ungodly; yet if thou can'ſtcanst but get this Blood ſprinkled upon thee, through Faith in it, it will make …
    With rule
    … Joh. 1. 7. and 2. 1, 2. Tho thou haſt been never ſo vile, and ungodly; yet if thou can'ſtcanst but get this Blood ſprinkled upon thee, through Faith in it, it will make …

    Nathanael Ball · Spiritual Bondage and Freedom · p. 308 · Open in the reader

  3. Printed
    … the Kingdome of God, God, and Chriſt is the chiefe thing; without this thou can'ſtcanst not ſee it. So in Joh. 6. 45. It is written, they ſhall all be taught …
    With rule
    … the Kingdome of God, God, and Chriſt is the chiefe thing; without this thou can'ſtcanst not ſee it. So in Joh. 6. 45. It is written, they ſhall all be taught …

    Walter Cradock · Gospel Holiness · p. 62 · Open in the reader

  4. Printed
    … to thee. Nigrior esse potes, Nequior esse Nequis. Blacker thou may'st, but worse thou can'stcanst not be.
    With rule
    … to thee. Nigrior esse potes, Nequior esse Nequis. Blacker thou may'st, but worse thou can'stcanst not be.

    Thomas Fuller · The History of the Worthies of England · p. 25 · Open in the reader

  5. Printed
    … which Richard anſwered ſomewhat faintly, I know of none. Mr. Jolly asked D. how can'ſtcanst thou then anſwer ſeveral queſtions, and tell many things, which cannot be done by …
    With rule
    … which Richard anſwered ſomewhat faintly, I know of none. Mr. Jolly asked D. how can'ſtcanst thou then anſwer ſeveral queſtions, and tell many things, which cannot be done by …

    Thomas Jollie · A Vindication of the Surrey Demoniac · p. 70 · Open in the reader

  6. Printed
    … thou doſt not, but ſhalt neglect and deſpiſe inſtruction, then truly thou wilt not can'ſtcanst not live, that's implyed, (when it's ſaid, He that doth this ſhall live) he …
    With rule
    … thou doſt not, but ſhalt neglect and deſpiſe inſtruction, then truly thou wilt not can'ſtcanst not live, that's implyed, (when it's ſaid, He that doth this ſhall live) he …

    Samuel Malbon · Death and Life · p. 172 · Open in the reader

  7. Printed
    … the Chriſtian with whom thou doſt walk in Fellowſhip, I diſallow it not; but can'ſtcanst thou dote ſo much as to think, that thou mayſt be a Heathen to …
    With rule
    … the Chriſtian with whom thou doſt walk in Fellowſhip, I diſallow it not; but can'ſtcanst thou dote ſo much as to think, that thou mayſt be a Heathen to …

    Thomas Sharpe · Divine Comforts · p. 87 · Open in the reader

  8. Printed
    295. Riches are called thornes, ſuch riches may be touch'd, but not reſted upon; can'ſtcanst thou ſet thine heart upon a thorne, without pierceing thy ſelfe through with many …
    With rule
    295. Riches are called thornes, ſuch riches may be touch'd, but not reſted upon; can'ſtcanst thou ſet thine heart upon a thorne, without pierceing thy ſelfe through with many …

    Ralph Venning · Canaans Flowings · p. 227 · Open in the reader

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Places Puritas left as printed: likely exceptions (37)

15 of them are in works where Puritas changed it elsewhere, so their places are known; 22 more are in works where it never changed. Each is our text, as the rule would change it.

Heaven Opened A26711

  • Printed
    … are all thy labours of love? Do'ſt watch, and pray, and work, and run? Can'ſtCanst ſpend and be ſpent for God, and yet not love him? Do'ſt live to …
    With rule
    … are all thy labours of love? Do'ſt watch, and pray, and work, and run? Can'ſtCanst ſpend and be ſpent for God, and yet not love him? Do'ſt live to …

    Richard Alleine · Heaven Opened · p. 233 · Open in the reader

The Doctrine of the Law and Grace Unfolded A30141

  • Printed
    … hear this, and not have thy ears to tingle and burn on thy head? Can'stCanst thou read this and not feel this and not feel thy Conscience begin to …
    With rule
    … hear this, and not have thy ears to tingle and burn on thy head? Can'stCanst thou read this and not feel this and not feel thy Conscience begin to …

    John Bunyan · The Doctrine of the Law and Grace Unfolded · p. 36 · Open in the reader

The Water of Life A30213

  • Printed
    … thou a Fish, Man, art thou a Fish? can'stcanst thou live in the Water? Can'stCanst thou live always, (and no where else but) in the water? Is Grace thy …
    With rule
    … thou a Fish, Man, art thou a Fish? can'stcanst thou live in the Water? Can'stCanst thou live always, (and no where else but) in the water? Is Grace thy …

    John Bunyan · The Water of Life · p. 24 · Open in the reader

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment A30598

  • Printed
    … in thine affliction? wilt thou therefore depart from God too? is this thy help? Can'ſtCanst thou help thy ſelf that way? Becauſe God is gone wilt thou go too …
    With rule
    … in thine affliction? wilt thou therefore depart from God too? is this thy help? Can'ſtCanst thou help thy ſelf that way? Becauſe God is gone wilt thou go too …

    Jeremiah Burroughs · The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment · p. 169 · Open in the reader

Self-Conflict A31368

  • Printed
    Can'ſtCanst thou refuſe to mitigate my pain?
    With rule
    Can'ſtCanst thou refuſe to mitigate my pain?

    Jacob Cats · Self-Conflict · p. 103 · Open in the reader

Passion and Discretion in Youth and Age A32323

  • Printed
    Can'ſtCanst here the ſilver, from the droſſe divide.
    With rule
    Can'ſtCanst here the ſilver, from the droſſe divide.

    Edward Calver · Passion and Discretion in Youth and Age · p. 59 · Open in the reader

The Blessedness of the Righteous A44666

  • Printed
    … Art thou ally'd to that blessed Family? and yet undesirous of the same blessedness? Can'stCanst thou savour nothing, but what smells of the Earth? Is nothing grateful to thy …
    With rule
    … Art thou ally'd to that blessed Family? and yet undesirous of the same blessedness? Can'stCanst thou savour nothing, but what smells of the Earth? Is nothing grateful to thy …

    John Howe · The Blessedness of the Righteous · p. 344 · Open in the reader

The Glorious Lover A47509

  • Printed
    Can'ſtCanst thou doſt think, God's fearful vengeance bear?
    With rule
    Can'ſtCanst thou doſt think, God's fearful vengeance bear?

    Benjamin Keach · The Glorious Lover · p. 102 · Open in the reader

Balm for Bleeding England and Ireland A48917

  • Printed
    … Can yee ſee bloud and death in the Land and lay nothing to heart? Can'ſtCanst thou ſee better bloud then thine own ſhed, and yet make no preparation for …
    With rule
    … Can yee ſee bloud and death in the Land and lay nothing to heart? Can'ſtCanst thou ſee better bloud then thine own ſhed, and yet make no preparation for …

    Nicholas Lockyer · Balm for Bleeding England and Ireland · p. 64 · Open in the reader

  • Printed
    Can'ſtCanst thou make no joy out of thy ſufferings for truth? I can gueſſe the …
    With rule
    Can'ſtCanst thou make no joy out of thy ſufferings for truth? I can gueſſe the …

    Nicholas Lockyer · Balm for Bleeding England and Ireland · p. 206 · Open in the reader

Sermon Preached to Young People A55344

  • Printed
    … cloſe with his Perſon? Did'ſt thou ever ſincerely like and comply with his Terms? Can'ſtCanst thou come up before God's Tribunal, and ſtand to it, that thou haſt made …
    With rule
    … cloſe with his Perſon? Did'ſt thou ever ſincerely like and comply with his Terms? Can'ſtCanst thou come up before God's Tribunal, and ſtand to it, that thou haſt made …

    Samuel Pomfret · Sermon Preached to Young People · p. 19 · Open in the reader

  • Printed
    … I demand of thee poor Sinner, art thou able to contend with the Almighty? Can'ſtCanst thou ſubſiſt or live without Peace with him? Should he come forth in a …
    With rule
    … I demand of thee poor Sinner, art thou able to contend with the Almighty? Can'ſtCanst thou ſubſiſt or live without Peace with him? Should he come forth in a …

    Samuel Pomfret · Sermon Preached to Young People · p. 29 · Open in the reader

Divine Comforts A59579

  • Printed
    … Chriſt, one Body for one Head. Does thy Fancy or Partiality here make Reſtrictions? Can'ſtCanst thou, dar'ſt thou chop and mangle this Body? Tear off a Limb of this …
    With rule
    … Chriſt, one Body for one Head. Does thy Fancy or Partiality here make Reſtrictions? Can'ſtCanst thou, dar'ſt thou chop and mangle this Body? Tear off a Limb of this …

    Thomas Sharpe · Divine Comforts · p. 113 · Open in the reader

Discourses Upon the Attributes of God A62636

  • Printed
    … that is perfect in knowledge? And again, Canſt thou by ſearching find out God? Can'ſtCanst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? Pſ. 18.30 As for God his way is …
    With rule
    … that is perfect in knowledge? And again, Canſt thou by ſearching find out God? Can'ſtCanst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? Pſ. 18.30 As for God his way is …

    John Tillotson · Discourses Upon the Attributes of God · p. 8 · Open in the reader

Heaven Upon Earth A87500

  • Printed
    … a dark Celler; but is this Armour ſtrong enough to encounter a God withal? Can'ſtCanst thou with theſe Fig-leaves defend thy ſelf againſt the arrowes of the Almighty …
    With rule
    … a dark Celler; but is this Armour ſtrong enough to encounter a God withal? Can'ſtCanst thou with theſe Fig-leaves defend thy ſelf againſt the arrowes of the Almighty …

    James Janeway · Heaven Upon Earth · p. 286 · Open in the reader