(Example: "With those rules, you can hardly be free." )
In standard formal English, you should use While "can't hardly" is frequently used in casual speech and certain regional dialects, it is considered a double negative and technically incorrect in professional or academic writing. Comparison at a Glance Feature Can Hardly (Recommended) Can't Hardly (Avoid) Grammar Status Correct Standard English Non-standard Double Negative Logic "Hardly" already carries a negative meaning ("almost not"). is it can hardly or cant hardly free