I saw the following sentence (believed to be from an autobiography) quoted in a book review:
“As I look back on my life and career, I cannot help but feel that it has been a life well spent.”
Is the usage okay? (To my mind, it should be either ‘cannot help feeling’ or ‘cannot but feel’)
It’s found used in the examples ‘quoted’ by Collins. But I would like to know whether either of my suggestions means the same as the subject expression. Also, if it is formal or informal.
‘cannot help feeling’ is okay (and almost equivalent, but doesn’t convey the same sense of inability to do anything other than what is indicated.)
‘cannot but feel’ I suppose is okay but I’ve never heard it in use and it seems slightly off as a result.
It’s neither formal nor informal.
‘can’t help but feel’ is obviously a more informal variation.
Well, thanks.