*: use "can't" instead of "cannot"

Signed-off-by: Denys Vlasenko <vda.linux@googlemail.com>

63 files changed, 148 insertions, 148 deletions

diff --git a/archival/dpkg.c b/archival/dpkg.c
index a9334df87..451c6fa32 100644
--- a/archival/dpkg.c
+++ b/archival/dpkg.c
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ static void write_status_file(deb_file_t **deb_file)
 	/* Create a separate backfile to dpkg */
 	if (rename("/var/lib/dpkg/status", "/var/lib/dpkg/status.udeb.bak") == -1) {
 		if (errno != ENOENT)
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot create backup status file");
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("can't create backup status file");
 		/* Its ok if renaming the status file fails because status
 		 * file doesnt exist, maybe we are starting from scratch */
 		bb_error_msg("no status file found, creating new one");
@@ -1646,7 +1646,7 @@ int dpkg_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			init_archive_deb_control(archive_handle);
 			deb_file[deb_count]->control_file = deb_extract_control_file_to_buffer(archive_handle, control_list);
 			if (deb_file[deb_count]->control_file == NULL) {
-				bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot extract control file");
+				bb_error_msg_and_die("can't extract control file");
 			}
 			deb_file[deb_count]->filename = xstrdup(argv[0]);
 			package_num = fill_package_struct(deb_file[deb_count]->control_file);
diff --git a/archival/tar.c b/archival/tar.c
index 450402d3c..95982372d 100644
--- a/archival/tar.c
+++ b/archival/tar.c
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ static int writeTarHeader(struct TarBallInfo *tbInfo,
 		if (sizeof(statbuf->st_size) > 4
 		 && statbuf->st_size > (off_t)0777777777777LL
 		) {
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot store file '%s' "
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("can't store file '%s' "
 				"of size %"OFF_FMT"d, aborting",
 				fileName, statbuf->st_size);
 		}
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ static NOINLINE int writeTarFile(int tar_fd, int verboseFlag,
 	/* Store the stat info for the tarball's file, so
 	 * can avoid including the tarball into itself....  */
 	if (fstat(tbInfo.tarFd, &tbInfo.statBuf) < 0)
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot stat tar file");
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't stat tar file");
 
 #if ENABLE_FEATURE_SEAMLESS_GZ || ENABLE_FEATURE_SEAMLESS_BZ2
 	if (gzip)
diff --git a/coreutils/date.c b/coreutils/date.c
index a230fe2b7..51200e64c 100644
--- a/coreutils/date.c
+++ b/coreutils/date.c
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ int date_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 
 		/* if setting time, set it */
 		if ((opt & OPT_SET) && stime(&tm) < 0) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot set date");
+			bb_perror_msg("can't set date");
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/coreutils/id.c b/coreutils/id.c
index 6022c9fa4..ec9227d06 100644
--- a/coreutils/id.c
+++ b/coreutils/id.c
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ int id_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			}
 		} else if (n < 0) { /* error in get_groups() */
 			if (!ENABLE_DESKTOP)
-				bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot get groups");
+				bb_error_msg_and_die("can't get groups");
 			else
 				return EXIT_FAILURE;
 		}
diff --git a/coreutils/libcoreutils/cp_mv_stat.c b/coreutils/libcoreutils/cp_mv_stat.c
index 0fd467c30..5ba07ecc3 100644
--- a/coreutils/libcoreutils/cp_mv_stat.c
+++ b/coreutils/libcoreutils/cp_mv_stat.c
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ int FAST_FUNC cp_mv_stat2(const char *fn, struct stat *fn_stat, stat_func sf)
 		if (errno != ENOENT) {
 #if ENABLE_FEATURE_VERBOSE_CP_MESSAGE
 			if (errno == ENOTDIR) {
-				bb_error_msg("cannot stat '%s': Path has non-directory component", fn);
+				bb_error_msg("can't stat '%s': Path has non-directory component", fn);
 				return -1;
 			}
 #endif
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot stat '%s'", fn);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't stat '%s'", fn);
 			return -1;
 		}
 		return 0;
diff --git a/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c b/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
index a988b9cbf..a64026d3d 100644
--- a/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
+++ b/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ int md5_sha1_sum_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 		}
 		/*
 		if (fclose_if_not_stdin(pre_computed_stream) == EOF) {
-			bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot close file %s", file_ptr);
+			bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't close file %s", file_ptr);
 		}
 		*/
 	} else {
diff --git a/coreutils/mv.c b/coreutils/mv.c
index be10b030a..1c5a46792 100644
--- a/coreutils/mv.c
+++ b/coreutils/mv.c
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@ int mv_main(int argc, char **argv)
 			if (errno != EXDEV
 			 || (source_exists = cp_mv_stat2(*argv, &source_stat, lstat)) < 1
 			) {
-				bb_perror_msg("cannot rename '%s'", *argv);
+				bb_perror_msg("can't rename '%s'", *argv);
 			} else {
 				static const char fmt[] ALIGN1 =
-					"cannot overwrite %sdirectory with %sdirectory";
+					"can't overwrite %sdirectory with %sdirectory";
 
 				if (dest_exists) {
 					if (dest_exists == 3) {
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ int mv_main(int argc, char **argv)
 						}
 					}
 					if (unlink(dest) < 0) {
-						bb_perror_msg("cannot remove '%s'", dest);
+						bb_perror_msg("can't remove '%s'", dest);
 						goto RET_1;
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/coreutils/od_bloaty.c b/coreutils/od_bloaty.c
index 1d5769bd8..0c4740b47 100644
--- a/coreutils/od_bloaty.c
+++ b/coreutils/od_bloaty.c
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ skip(off_t n_skip)
 	}
 
 	if (n_skip)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot skip past end of combined input");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't skip past end of combined input");
 }
 
 
diff --git a/coreutils/rm.c b/coreutils/rm.c
index 6b3fbcf25..3090cc323 100644
--- a/coreutils/rm.c
+++ b/coreutils/rm.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ int rm_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			const char *base = bb_get_last_path_component_strip(*argv);
 
 			if (DOT_OR_DOTDOT(base)) {
-				bb_error_msg("cannot remove '.' or '..'");
+				bb_error_msg("can't remove '.' or '..'");
 			} else if (remove_file(*argv, flags) >= 0) {
 				continue;
 			}
diff --git a/coreutils/stat.c b/coreutils/stat.c
index 44a03e5e7..2bc9a086c 100644
--- a/coreutils/stat.c
+++ b/coreutils/stat.c
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static bool do_statfs(const char *filename, const char *format)
 	}
 #endif
 	if (statfs(filename, &statfsbuf) != 0) {
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot read file system information for '%s'", filename);
+		bb_perror_msg("can't read file system information for '%s'", filename);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ static bool do_stat(const char *filename, const char *format)
 	}
 #endif
 	if ((option_mask32 & OPT_DEREFERENCE ? stat : lstat) (filename, &statbuf) != 0) {
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot stat '%s'", filename);
+		bb_perror_msg("can't stat '%s'", filename);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
diff --git a/debianutils/start_stop_daemon.c b/debianutils/start_stop_daemon.c
index 6726fc7c9..10da8dce4 100644
--- a/debianutils/start_stop_daemon.c
+++ b/debianutils/start_stop_daemon.c
@@ -443,5 +443,5 @@ int start_stop_daemon_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	}
 #endif
 	execvp(startas, argv);
-	bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot start %s", startas);
+	bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't start %s", startas);
 }
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/fsck.c b/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
index 21b2fdc0d..fd0401b47 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ static void load_fs_info(const char *filename)
 
 	fstab = setmntent(filename, "r");
 	if (!fstab) {
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot read %s", filename);
+		bb_perror_msg("can't read %s", filename);
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/blkid/resolve.c b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/blkid/resolve.c
index 7942de2cd..0f92158e2 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/blkid/resolve.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/blkid/resolve.c
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	if (blkid_get_cache(&cache, bb_dev_null) < 0) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "cannot get blkid cache\n");
+		fprintf(stderr, "Can't get blkid cache\n");
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/e2fsck.c b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/e2fsck.c
index 6531f5d16..c715d3e9a 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/e2fsck.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/e2fsck.c
@@ -9400,7 +9400,7 @@ static const struct e2fsck_problem problem_table[] = {
 
 	/* Cannot proceed without a root inode. */
 	{ PR_3_NO_ROOT_INODE_ABORT,
-	  N_("Cannot proceed without a @r.\n"),
+	  N_("can't proceed without a @r.\n"),
 	  PROMPT_NONE, PR_FATAL },
 
 	/* Internal error: couldn't find dir_info */
@@ -12653,7 +12653,7 @@ static void check_mount(e2fsck_t ctx)
 
 	printf(_("%s is mounted.  "), ctx->filesystem_name);
 	if (!ctx->interactive)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die(_("cannot continue, aborting"));
+		bb_error_msg_and_die(_("can't continue, aborting"));
 	printf(_("\n\n\007\007\007\007WARNING!!!  "
 	       "Running e2fsck on a mounted filesystem may cause\n"
 	       "SEVERE filesystem damage.\007\007\007\n\n"));
@@ -13373,7 +13373,7 @@ restart:
 				 * happen, unless the hardware or
 				 * device driver is being bogus.
 				 */
-				bb_error_msg(_("cannot set superblock flags on %s"), ctx->device_name);
+				bb_error_msg(_("can't set superblock flags on %s"), ctx->device_name);
 				bb_error_msg_and_die(0);
 			}
 			retval = e2fsck_run_ext3_journal(ctx);
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/fsck.c b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/fsck.c
index 98e4e38fe..687938c24 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/fsck.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/fsck.c
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ static int ignore(struct fs_info *fs)
 	s = find_fsck(fs->type);
 	if (s == NULL) {
 		if (wanted)
-			bb_error_msg("cannot check %s: fsck.%s not found",
+			bb_error_msg("can't check %s: fsck.%s not found",
 				fs->device, fs->type);
 		return 1;
 	}
@@ -1203,7 +1203,7 @@ static void PRS(int argc, char **argv)
 				 * /proc/partitions isn't found.
 				 */
 				if (access("/proc/partitions", R_OK) < 0) {
-					bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot open /proc/partitions "
+					bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't open /proc/partitions "
 							"(is /proc mounted?)");
 				}
 				/*
@@ -1215,7 +1215,7 @@ static void PRS(int argc, char **argv)
 		"must be root to scan for matching filesystems: %s\n", arg);
 				else
 					bb_error_msg_and_die(
-		"cannot find matching filesystem: %s", arg);
+		"can't find matching filesystem: %s", arg);
 			}
 			devices[num_devices++] = dev ? dev : string_copy(arg);
 			continue;
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/mke2fs.c b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/mke2fs.c
index a1327437d..32f0329c3 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/mke2fs.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/mke2fs.c
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ static void test_disk(ext2_filsys fs, badblocks_list *bb_list)
 	mke2fs_verbose("Running command: %s\n", buf);
 	f = popen(buf, "r");
 	if (!f) {
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot run '%s'", buf);
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't run '%s'", buf);
 	}
 	retval = ext2fs_read_bb_FILE(fs, f, bb_list, invalid_block);
 	pclose(f);
@@ -1305,7 +1305,7 @@ int mke2fs_main (int argc, char **argv)
 			retval = zero_blocks(fs, start, blocks - start,
 					     NULL, &ret_blk, NULL);
 
-		mke2fs_warning_msg(retval, "cannot zero block %u at end of filesystem", ret_blk);
+		mke2fs_warning_msg(retval, "can't zero block %u at end of filesystem", ret_blk);
 		write_inode_tables(fs);
 		create_root_dir(fs);
 		create_lost_and_found(fs);
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/tune2fs.c b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/tune2fs.c
index 1d39ed1b0..00f8682a5 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/tune2fs.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/tune2fs.c
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ static time_t parse_time(char *str)
 		ts.tm_mday = 0;
 #endif
 	if (ts.tm_mday == 0) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Cannot parse date/time specifier: %s", str);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't parse date/time specifier: %s", str);
 	}
 	return mktime(&ts);
 }
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ int tune2fs_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 	retval = ext2fs_check_if_mounted(device_name, &mount_flags);
 	if (retval)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot determine if %s is mounted", device_name);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't determine if %s is mounted", device_name);
 	/* Normally we only need to write out the superblock */
 	fs->flags |= EXT2_FLAG_SUPER_ONLY;
 
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/util.c b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/util.c
index 7ab6591d5..326492d49 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/util.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/old_e2fsprogs/util.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ void check_plausibility(const char *device, int force)
 	if (force)
 		return;
 	if (val == -1)
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot stat %s", device);
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't stat %s", device);
 	if (!S_ISBLK(s.st_mode)) {
 		printf("%s is not a block special device.\n", device);
 		proceed_question();
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ void check_mount(const char *device, int force, const char *type)
 
 	retval = ext2fs_check_if_mounted(device, &mount_flags);
 	if (retval) {
-		bb_error_msg("cannot determine if %s is mounted", device);
+		bb_error_msg("can't determine if %s is mounted", device);
 		return;
 	}
 	if (mount_flags & EXT2_MF_MOUNTED) {
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ void make_journal_device(char *journal_device, ext2_filsys fs, int quiet, int fo
 					EXT2_FLAG_JOURNAL_DEV_OK, 0,
 					fs->blocksize, io_ptr, &jfs);
 	if (retval)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot journal device %s", journal_device);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't journal device %s", journal_device);
 	if (!quiet)
 		printf("Adding journal to device %s: ", journal_device);
 	fflush(stdout);
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ void make_journal_blocks(ext2_filsys fs, int journal_size, int journal_flags, in
 	retval = ext2fs_add_journal_inode(fs, journal_blocks,
 						  journal_flags);
 	if (retval)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot create journal");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't create journal");
 	if (!quiet)
 		puts("done");
 }
diff --git a/editors/ed.c b/editors/ed.c
index 8ed4cd42b..9ce8bead1 100644
--- a/editors/ed.c
+++ b/editors/ed.c
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ static void subCommand(const char *cmd, int num1, int num2)
 		 */
 		nlp = malloc(sizeof(LINE) + lp->len + deltaLen);
 		if (nlp == NULL) {
-			bb_error_msg("cannot get memory for line");
+			bb_error_msg("can't get memory for line");
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ static NOINLINE int searchLines(const char *str, int num1, int num2)
 		lp = lp->next;
 	}
 
-	bb_error_msg("cannot find string \"%s\"", str);
+	bb_error_msg("can't find string \"%s\"", str);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/editors/sed.c b/editors/sed.c
index 27c345921..cc609c3f6 100644
--- a/editors/sed.c
+++ b/editors/sed.c
@@ -1337,7 +1337,7 @@ int sed_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			G.outname = xasprintf("%sXXXXXX", argv[i]);
 			nonstdoutfd = mkstemp(G.outname);
 			if (-1 == nonstdoutfd)
-				bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot create temp file %s", G.outname);
+				bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't create temp file %s", G.outname);
 			G.nonstdout = fdopen(nonstdoutfd, "w");
 
 			/* Set permissions of output file */
diff --git a/editors/vi.c b/editors/vi.c
index 1a3997a6b..6a6722875 100644
--- a/editors/vi.c
+++ b/editors/vi.c
@@ -2335,7 +2335,7 @@ static int file_insert(const char *fn, char *p, int update_ro_status)
 	} else if (cnt < size) {
 		// There was a partial read, shrink unused space text[]
 		p = text_hole_delete(p + cnt, p + (size - cnt) - 1);	// un-do buffer insert
-		status_line_bold("cannot read all of file \"%s\"", fn);
+		status_line_bold("can't read all of file \"%s\"", fn);
 	}
 	if (cnt >= size)
 		file_modified++;
diff --git a/findutils/xargs.c b/findutils/xargs.c
index ab1a6d0a5..c7117771c 100644
--- a/findutils/xargs.c
+++ b/findutils/xargs.c
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ int xargs_main(int argc, char **argv)
 			n_chars += strlen(*argv) + 1;
 		}
 		if (n_max_chars < n_chars) {
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot fit single argument within argument list size limit");
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("can't fit single argument within argument list size limit");
 		}
 		n_max_chars -= n_chars;
 	} else {
diff --git a/init/init.c b/init/init.c
index 6bee8f35c..5240e47a5 100644
--- a/init/init.c
+++ b/init/init.c
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ static void init_exec(const char *command)
 			ioctl(STDIN_FILENO, TIOCSCTTY, 0 /*only try, don't steal*/);
 	}
 	BB_EXECVP(cmd[0] + dash, cmd);
-	message(L_LOG | L_CONSOLE, "cannot run '%s': %s", cmd[0], strerror(errno));
+	message(L_LOG | L_CONSOLE, "can't run '%s': %s", cmd[0], strerror(errno));
 	/* returns if execvp fails */
 }
 
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ int init_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			BB_EXECVP(argv[0], argv);
 		} else if (enforce > 0) {
 			/* SELinux in enforcing mode but load_policy failed */
-			message(L_CONSOLE, "cannot load SELinux Policy. "
+			message(L_CONSOLE, "can't load SELinux Policy. "
 				"Machine is in enforcing mode. Halting now.");
 			exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 		}
diff --git a/libbb/copy_file.c b/libbb/copy_file.c
index ae70cbc0a..ff298855d 100644
--- a/libbb/copy_file.c
+++ b/libbb/copy_file.c
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@ static int ask_and_unlink(const char *dest, int flags)
 #if !ENABLE_FEATURE_NON_POSIX_CP
 	if (!(flags & (FILEUTILS_FORCE|FILEUTILS_INTERACTIVE))) {
 		/* Either it exists, or the *path* doesnt exist */
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot create '%s'", dest);
+		bb_perror_msg("can't create '%s'", dest);
 		return -1;
 	}
 #endif
 	// else: act as if -f is always in effect.
-	// We don't want "cannot create" msg, we want unlink to be done
+	// We don't want "can't create" msg, we want unlink to be done
 	// (silently unless -i). Why? POSIX cp usually succeeds with
 	// O_TRUNC open of existing file, and user is left ignorantly happy.
 	// With above block unconditionally enabled, non-POSIX cp
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ static int ask_and_unlink(const char *dest, int flags)
 		if (e == errno && e == ENOENT) {
 			/* e == ENOTDIR is similar: path has non-dir component,
 			 * but in this case we don't even reach copy_file() */
-			bb_error_msg("cannot create '%s': Path does not exist", dest);
+			bb_error_msg("can't create '%s': Path does not exist", dest);
 			return -1; /* error */
 		}
 #endif
 		errno = e; /* do not use errno from unlink */
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot create '%s'", dest);
+		bb_perror_msg("can't create '%s'", dest);
 		return -1; /* error */
 	}
 	return 1; /* ok (to try again) */
@@ -90,13 +90,13 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 		 * Making [sym]links to dangling symlinks works, so... */
 		if (flags & (FILEUTILS_MAKE_SOFTLINK|FILEUTILS_MAKE_HARDLINK))
 			goto make_links;
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot stat '%s'", source);
+		bb_perror_msg("can't stat '%s'", source);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (lstat(dest, &dest_stat) < 0) {
 		if (errno != ENOENT) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot stat '%s'", dest);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't stat '%s'", dest);
 			return -1;
 		}
 	} else {
@@ -114,14 +114,14 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 		security_context_t con;
 		if (lgetfilecon(source, &con) >= 0) {
 			if (setfscreatecon(con) < 0) {
-				bb_perror_msg("cannot set setfscreatecon %s", con);
+				bb_perror_msg("can't set setfscreatecon %s", con);
 				freecon(con);
 				return -1;
 			}
 		} else if (errno == ENOTSUP || errno == ENODATA) {
 			setfscreatecon_or_die(NULL);
 		} else {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot lgetfilecon %s", source);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't lgetfilecon %s", source);
 			return -1;
 		}
 	}
@@ -166,13 +166,13 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 			mode |= S_IRWXU;
 			if (mkdir(dest, mode) < 0) {
 				umask(saved_umask);
-				bb_perror_msg("cannot create directory '%s'", dest);
+				bb_perror_msg("can't create directory '%s'", dest);
 				return -1;
 			}
 			umask(saved_umask);
 			/* need stat info for add_to_ino_dev_hashtable */
 			if (lstat(dest, &dest_stat) < 0) {
-				bb_perror_msg("cannot stat '%s'", dest);
+				bb_perror_msg("can't stat '%s'", dest);
 				return -1;
 			}
 		}
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 		if (!dest_exists
 		 && chmod(dest, source_stat.st_mode & ~saved_umask) < 0
 		) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot preserve %s of '%s'", "permissions", dest);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't preserve %s of '%s'", "permissions", dest);
 			/* retval = -1; - WRONG! copy *WAS* made */
 		}
 		goto preserve_mode_ugid_time;
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 			if (ovr <= 0)
 				return ovr;
 			if (lf(source, dest) < 0) {
-				bb_perror_msg("cannot create link '%s'", dest);
+				bb_perror_msg("can't create link '%s'", dest);
 				return -1;
 			}
 		}
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 					if (ovr <= 0)
 						return ovr;
 					if (link(link_target, dest) < 0) {
-						bb_perror_msg("cannot create link '%s'", dest);
+						bb_perror_msg("can't create link '%s'", dest);
 						return -1;
 					}
 				}
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 			retval = -1;
 		/* Ok, writing side I can understand... */
 		if (close(dst_fd) < 0) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot close '%s'", dest);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't close '%s'", dest);
 			retval = -1;
 		}
 		/* ...but read size is already checked by bb_copyfd_eof */
@@ -345,12 +345,12 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 			int r = symlink(lpath, dest);
 			free(lpath);
 			if (r < 0) {
-				bb_perror_msg("cannot create symlink '%s'", dest);
+				bb_perror_msg("can't create symlink '%s'", dest);
 				return -1;
 			}
 			if (flags & FILEUTILS_PRESERVE_STATUS)
 				if (lchown(dest, source_stat.st_uid, source_stat.st_gid) < 0)
-					bb_perror_msg("cannot preserve %s of '%s'", "ownership", dest);
+					bb_perror_msg("can't preserve %s of '%s'", "ownership", dest);
 		}
 		/* _Not_ jumping to preserve_mode_ugid_time:
 		 * symlinks don't have those */
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 	 || S_ISSOCK(source_stat.st_mode) || S_ISFIFO(source_stat.st_mode)
 	) {
 		if (mknod(dest, source_stat.st_mode, source_stat.st_rdev) < 0) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot create '%s'", dest);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't create '%s'", dest);
 			return -1;
 		}
 	} else {
@@ -380,13 +380,13 @@ int FAST_FUNC copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int flags)
 		times.modtime = source_stat.st_mtime;
 		/* BTW, utimes sets usec-precision time - just FYI */
 		if (utime(dest, &times) < 0)
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot preserve %s of '%s'", "times", dest);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't preserve %s of '%s'", "times", dest);
 		if (chown(dest, source_stat.st_uid, source_stat.st_gid) < 0) {
 			source_stat.st_mode &= ~(S_ISUID | S_ISGID);
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot preserve %s of '%s'", "ownership", dest);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't preserve %s of '%s'", "ownership", dest);
 		}
 		if (chmod(dest, source_stat.st_mode) < 0)
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot preserve %s of '%s'", "permissions", dest);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't preserve %s of '%s'", "permissions", dest);
 	}
 
 	return retval;
diff --git a/libbb/kernel_version.c b/libbb/kernel_version.c
index 937d2dbfb..cc237120d 100644
--- a/libbb/kernel_version.c
+++ b/libbb/kernel_version.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC get_linux_version_code(void)
 	int i, r;
 
 	if (uname(&name) == -1) {
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot get system information");
+		bb_perror_msg("can't get system information");
 		return 0;
 	}
 
diff --git a/libbb/make_directory.c b/libbb/make_directory.c
index 391493cda..a4ad59975 100644
--- a/libbb/make_directory.c
+++ b/libbb/make_directory.c
@@ -93,6 +93,6 @@ int FAST_FUNC bb_make_directory(char *path, long mode, int flags)
 		*s = c;
 	} /* while (1) */
 
-	bb_perror_msg("cannot %s directory '%s'", fail_msg, path);
+	bb_perror_msg("can't %s directory '%s'", fail_msg, path);
 	return -1;
 }
diff --git a/libbb/remove_file.c b/libbb/remove_file.c
index 8b14f07c9..da1488544 100644
--- a/libbb/remove_file.c
+++ b/libbb/remove_file.c
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ int FAST_FUNC remove_file(const char *path, int flags)
 
 	if (lstat(path, &path_stat) < 0) {
 		if (errno != ENOENT) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot stat '%s'", path);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't stat '%s'", path);
 			return -1;
 		}
 		if (!(flags & FILEUTILS_FORCE)) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot remove '%s'", path);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't remove '%s'", path);
 			return -1;
 		}
 		return 0;
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC remove_file(const char *path, int flags)
 		}
 
 		if (closedir(dp) < 0) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot close '%s'", path);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't close '%s'", path);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC remove_file(const char *path, int flags)
 		}
 
 		if (rmdir(path) < 0) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot remove '%s'", path);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't remove '%s'", path);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC remove_file(const char *path, int flags)
 	}
 
 	if (unlink(path) < 0) {
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot remove '%s'", path);
+		bb_perror_msg("can't remove '%s'", path);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/libbb/run_shell.c b/libbb/run_shell.c
index 2ccb3a12c..de7b92ab2 100644
--- a/libbb/run_shell.c
+++ b/libbb/run_shell.c
@@ -86,5 +86,5 @@ void FAST_FUNC run_shell(const char *shell, int loginshell, const char *command,
 		freecon(current_sid);
 #endif
 	execv(shell, (char **) args);
-	bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot run %s", shell);
+	bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't run %s", shell);
 }
diff --git a/libbb/selinux_common.c b/libbb/selinux_common.c
index 275a761d2..7b5696754 100644
--- a/libbb/selinux_common.c
+++ b/libbb/selinux_common.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ void FAST_FUNC setfscreatecon_or_die(security_context_t scontext)
 	if (setfscreatecon(scontext) < 0) {
 		/* Can be NULL. All known printf implementations
 		 * display "(null)", "<null>" etc */
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot set default "
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't set default "
 				"file creation context to %s", scontext);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/libbb/xconnect.c b/libbb/xconnect.c
index a18466935..f018ca9d9 100644
--- a/libbb/xconnect.c
+++ b/libbb/xconnect.c
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ void FAST_FUNC xconnect(int s, const struct sockaddr *s_addr, socklen_t addrlen)
 			close(s);
 		if (s_addr->sa_family == AF_INET)
 			bb_perror_msg_and_die("%s (%s)",
-				"cannot connect to remote host",
+				"can't connect to remote host",
 				inet_ntoa(((struct sockaddr_in *)s_addr)->sin_addr));
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot connect to remote host");
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't connect to remote host");
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/loginutils/login.c b/loginutils/login.c
index 1ffa965c2..7a6f246ad 100644
--- a/loginutils/login.c
+++ b/loginutils/login.c
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ static void initselinux(char *username, char *full_tty,
 		return;
 
 	if (get_default_context(username, NULL, user_sid)) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot get SID for %s", username);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't get SID for %s", username);
 	}
 	if (getfilecon(full_tty, &old_tty_sid) < 0) {
 		bb_perror_msg_and_die("getfilecon(%s) failed", full_tty);
diff --git a/loginutils/passwd.c b/loginutils/passwd.c
index 1164ff4f9..c1481c65e 100644
--- a/loginutils/passwd.c
+++ b/loginutils/passwd.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ int passwd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	if (!(opt & OPT_lud)) {
 		if (myuid && !c) { /* passwd starts with '!' */
 			/* LOGMODE_BOTH */
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot change "
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("can't change "
 					"locked password for %s", name);
 		}
 		printf("Changing password for %s\n", name);
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ int passwd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	}
 	/* LOGMODE_BOTH */
 	if (rc < 0)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot update password file %s",
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't update password file %s",
 				filename);
 	bb_info_msg("Password for %s changed by %s", name, myname);
 
diff --git a/miscutils/crond.c b/miscutils/crond.c
index 74bf9168b..8e4f0bfd6 100644
--- a/miscutils/crond.c
+++ b/miscutils/crond.c
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ static void RunJob(const char *user, CronLine *line)
 				line->cl_Shell);
 			line->cl_MailPos = lseek(mailFd, 0, SEEK_CUR);
 		} else {
-			crondlog(ERR20 "cannot create mail file %s for user %s, "
+			crondlog(ERR20 "can't create mail file %s for user %s, "
 					"discarding output", mailFile, user);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/miscutils/crontab.c b/miscutils/crontab.c
index 34b80ea37..67b10f684 100644
--- a/miscutils/crontab.c
+++ b/miscutils/crontab.c
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ int crontab_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			close(fd);
 			xrename(new_fname, pas->pw_name);
 		} else {
-			bb_error_msg("cannot create %s/%s",
+			bb_error_msg("can't create %s/%s",
 					crontab_dir, new_fname);
 		}
 		if (tmp_fname)
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ int crontab_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 		/* loop */
 	}
 	if (fd < 0) {
-		bb_error_msg("cannot append to %s/%s",
+		bb_error_msg("can't append to %s/%s",
 				crontab_dir, CRONUPDATE);
 	}
 	return 0;
diff --git a/miscutils/time.c b/miscutils/time.c
index 30298fe32..42c812a42 100644
--- a/miscutils/time.c
+++ b/miscutils/time.c
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ static void run_command(char *const *cmd, resource_t *resp)
 		   versus merely warnings if the cast is left off.  */
 		BB_EXECVP(cmd[0], cmd);
 		xfunc_error_retval = (errno == ENOENT ? 127 : 126);
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot run %s", cmd[0]);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't run %s", cmd[0]);
 	}
 
 	/* Have signals kill the child but not self (if possible).  */
diff --git a/networking/ether-wake.c b/networking/ether-wake.c
index 59f40535c..e05db7a80 100644
--- a/networking/ether-wake.c
+++ b/networking/ether-wake.c
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ static int get_wol_pw(const char *ethoptarg, unsigned char *wol_passwd)
 		byte_cnt = sscanf(ethoptarg, "%u.%u.%u.%u",
 		                  &passwd[0], &passwd[1], &passwd[2], &passwd[3]);
 	if (byte_cnt < 4) {
-		bb_error_msg("cannot read Wake-On-LAN pass");
+		bb_error_msg("can't read Wake-On-LAN pass");
 		return 0;
 	}
 // TODO: check invalid numbers >255??
diff --git a/networking/ipcalc.c b/networking/ipcalc.c
index b5cc3dec4..18abc12eb 100644
--- a/networking/ipcalc.c
+++ b/networking/ipcalc.c
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ int ipcalc_main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 			hostinfo = gethostbyaddr((char *) &ipaddr, sizeof(ipaddr), AF_INET);
 			if (!hostinfo) {
-				bb_herror_msg_and_die("cannot find hostname for %s", argv[0]);
+				bb_herror_msg_and_die("can't find hostname for %s", argv[0]);
 			}
 			str_tolower(hostinfo->h_name);
 
diff --git a/networking/libiproute/ipaddress.c b/networking/libiproute/ipaddress.c
index fcf9623e4..c450c6a9f 100644
--- a/networking/libiproute/ipaddress.c
+++ b/networking/libiproute/ipaddress.c
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ int ipaddr_list_or_flush(char **argv, int flush)
 			bb_error_msg_and_die(bb_msg_requires_arg, "flush");
 		}
 		if (filter.family == AF_PACKET) {
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot flush link addresses");
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("can't flush link addresses");
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/networking/libiproute/iproute.c b/networking/libiproute/iproute.c
index 7031bed34..67eb90b84 100644
--- a/networking/libiproute/iproute.c
+++ b/networking/libiproute/iproute.c
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ static void iproute_flush_cache(void)
 	}
 
 	if (write(flush_fd, "-1", 2) < 2) {
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot flush routing cache");
+		bb_perror_msg("can't flush routing cache");
 		return;
 	}
 	close(flush_fd);
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ static int iproute_list_or_flush(char **argv, int flush)
 	if (filter.tb != -1) {
 		xrtnl_wilddump_request(&rth, do_ipv6, RTM_GETROUTE);
 	} else if (rtnl_rtcache_request(&rth, do_ipv6) < 0) {
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot send dump request");
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't send dump request");
 	}
 	xrtnl_dump_filter(&rth, print_route, NULL);
 
diff --git a/networking/libiproute/iptunnel.c b/networking/libiproute/iptunnel.c
index 836709c7e..67afd1bfd 100644
--- a/networking/libiproute/iptunnel.c
+++ b/networking/libiproute/iptunnel.c
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ static void parse_args(char **argv, int cmd, struct ip_tunnel_parm *p)
 				}
 				p->iph.protocol = IPPROTO_IPV6;
 			} else {
-				bb_error_msg_and_die("%s tunnel mode", "cannot guess");
+				bb_error_msg_and_die("%s tunnel mode", "can't guess");
 			}
 		} else if (key == ARG_key) {
 			unsigned uval;
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ static int do_add(int cmd, char **argv)
 	case IPPROTO_IPV6:
 		return do_add_ioctl(cmd, "sit0", &p);
 	default:
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot determine tunnel mode (ipip, gre or sit)");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't determine tunnel mode (ipip, gre or sit)");
 	}
 }
 
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ static void do_tunnels_list(struct ip_tunnel_parm *p)
 			continue;
 		type = do_ioctl_get_iftype(name);
 		if (type == -1) {
-			bb_error_msg("cannot get type of [%s]", name);
+			bb_error_msg("can't get type of [%s]", name);
 			continue;
 		}
 		if (type != ARPHRD_TUNNEL && type != ARPHRD_IPGRE && type != ARPHRD_SIT)
diff --git a/networking/libiproute/libnetlink.c b/networking/libiproute/libnetlink.c
index b4cc8dfa4..9e6467de5 100644
--- a/networking/libiproute/libnetlink.c
+++ b/networking/libiproute/libnetlink.c
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 	status = sendmsg(rtnl->fd, &msg, 0);
 
 	if (status < 0) {
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot talk to rtnetlink");
+		bb_perror_msg("can't talk to rtnetlink");
 		goto ret;
 	}
 
diff --git a/networking/libiproute/ll_map.c b/networking/libiproute/ll_map.c
index 3c4ef2c32..246b9e33a 100644
--- a/networking/libiproute/ll_map.c
+++ b/networking/libiproute/ll_map.c
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC xll_name_to_index(const char *name)
 	}
 /* out:*/
 	if (ret <= 0)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot find device \"%s\"", name);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't find device '%s'", name);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/networking/nameif.c b/networking/nameif.c
index fb31fbfff..36fbb954e 100644
--- a/networking/nameif.c
+++ b/networking/nameif.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static void nameif_parse_selector(ethtable_t *ch, char *selector)
 			lmac = xmalloc(ETH_ALEN);
 			ch->mac = ether_aton_r(selector + (strncmp(selector, "mac=", 4) ? 0 : 4), lmac);
 			if (ch->mac == NULL)
-				bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot parse %s", selector);
+				bb_error_msg_and_die("can't parse %s", selector);
 #if  ENABLE_FEATURE_NAMEIF_EXTENDED
 			found_selector++;
 		};
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ int nameif_main(int argc, char **argv)
 		if (strcmp(ifr.ifr_name, ch->ifname) != 0) {
 			strcpy(ifr.ifr_newname, ch->ifname);
 			ioctl_or_perror_and_die(ctl_sk, SIOCSIFNAME, &ifr,
-					"cannot change ifname %s to %s",
+					"can't change ifname %s to %s",
 					ifr.ifr_name, ch->ifname);
 		}
 		/* Remove list entry of renamed interface */
diff --git a/networking/tc.c b/networking/tc.c
index d9636949c..3115a5254 100644
--- a/networking/tc.c
+++ b/networking/tc.c
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ int tc_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 		if (rtnl_dump_request(&rth, obj == OBJ_qdisc ? RTM_GETQDISC :
 						obj == OBJ_class ? RTM_GETTCLASS : RTM_GETTFILTER,
 						&msg, sizeof(msg)) < 0)
-			bb_simple_perror_msg_and_die("cannot send dump request");
+			bb_simple_perror_msg_and_die("can't send dump request");
 
 		xrtnl_dump_filter(&rth, obj == OBJ_qdisc ? print_qdisc :
 						obj == OBJ_class ? print_class : print_filter,
diff --git a/networking/tcpudp.c b/networking/tcpudp.c
index 98a2aa8c0..25b3319ec 100644
--- a/networking/tcpudp.c
+++ b/networking/tcpudp.c
@@ -251,14 +251,14 @@ int tcpudpsvd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	if (!cert) cert = "./cert.pem";
 	if (!key) key = cert;
 	if (matrixSslOpen() < 0)
-		fatal("cannot initialize ssl");
+		fatal("can't initialize ssl");
 	if (matrixSslReadKeys(&keys, cert, key, 0, ca) < 0) {
 		if (client)
-			fatal("cannot read cert, key, or ca file");
-		fatal("cannot read cert or key file");
+			fatal("can't read cert, key, or ca file");
+		fatal("can't read cert or key file");
 	}
 	if (matrixSslNewSession(&ssl, keys, 0, SSL_FLAGS_SERVER) < 0)
-		fatal("cannot create ssl session");
+		fatal("can't create ssl session");
 #endif
 
 	sig_block(SIGCHLD);
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ int tcpudpsvd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			if (opts & OPT_h) {
 				free_me1 = remote_hostname = xmalloc_sockaddr2host_noport(&remote.u.sa);
 				if (!remote_hostname) {
-					bb_error_msg("cannot look up hostname for %s", remote_addr);
+					bb_error_msg("can't look up hostname for %s", remote_addr);
 					remote_hostname = remote_addr;
 				}
 			}
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ int tcpudpsvd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 				if (!local_hostname) {
 					free_me2 = local_hostname = xmalloc_sockaddr2host_noport(&local.u.sa);
 					if (!local_hostname)
-						bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot look up hostname for %s", local_addr);
+						bb_error_msg_and_die("can't look up hostname for %s", local_addr);
 				}
 				/* else: local_hostname is not NULL, but is NOT malloced! */
 			}
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/arpping.c b/networking/udhcp/arpping.c
index 48158fc43..3df0f39b7 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/arpping.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/arpping.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ int FAST_FUNC arpping(uint32_t test_nip,
 	}
 
 	if (setsockopt_broadcast(s) == -1) {
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot enable bcast on raw socket");
+		bb_perror_msg("can't enable bcast on raw socket");
 		goto ret;
 	}
 
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/dhcpd.c b/networking/udhcp/dhcpd.c
index 23292a55d..dc5d9ffe9 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/dhcpd.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/dhcpd.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ int udhcpd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 
 	/* Create pidfile */
 	write_pidfile(server_config.pidfile);
-	/* if (!..) bb_perror_msg("cannot create pidfile %s", pidfile); */
+	/* if (!..) bb_perror_msg("can't create pidfile %s", pidfile); */
 
 	bb_info_msg("%s (v"BB_VER") started", applet_name);
 
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/options.c b/networking/udhcp/options.c
index 38f99196e..10ec4597f 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/options.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/options.c
@@ -255,6 +255,6 @@ int FAST_FUNC add_simple_option(uint8_t *optionptr, uint8_t code, uint32_t data)
 		}
 	}
 
-	bb_error_msg("cannot add option 0x%02x", code);
+	bb_error_msg("can't add option 0x%02x", code);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/signalpipe.c b/networking/udhcp/signalpipe.c
index a025bd8b5..c181e0e06 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/signalpipe.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/signalpipe.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ static void signal_handler(int sig)
 {
 	unsigned char ch = sig; /* use char, avoid dealing with partial writes */
 	if (write(signal_pipe.wr, &ch, 1) != 1)
-		bb_perror_msg("cannot send signal");
+		bb_perror_msg("can't send signal");
 }
 
 
diff --git a/networking/wget.c b/networking/wget.c
index 11d39cb66..8ca6def67 100644
--- a/networking/wget.c
+++ b/networking/wget.c
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ int wget_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 
 	/* Impossible?
 	if ((opt & WGET_OPT_CONTINUE) && !fname_out)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot specify continue (-c) without a filename (-O)");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't specify continue (-c) without a filename (-O)");
 	*/
 
 	/* Determine where to start transfer */
diff --git a/procps/kill.c b/procps/kill.c
index 1f8206986..e418046e7 100644
--- a/procps/kill.c
+++ b/procps/kill.c
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ int kill_main(int argc, char **argv)
 						continue;
 					errors++;
 					if (!quiet)
-						bb_perror_msg("cannot kill pid %u", (unsigned)*pl);
+						bb_perror_msg("can't kill pid %u", (unsigned)*pl);
 				}
 			}
 			free(pidList);
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ int kill_main(int argc, char **argv)
 			bb_error_msg("bad pid '%s'", arg);
 			errors++;
 		} else if (kill(pid, signo) != 0) {
-			bb_perror_msg("cannot kill pid %d", (int)pid);
+			bb_perror_msg("can't kill pid %d", (int)pid);
 			errors++;
 		}
 		arg = *++argv;
diff --git a/procps/ps.c b/procps/ps.c
index e94004541..be11a1b67 100644
--- a/procps/ps.c
+++ b/procps/ps.c
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ static unsigned get_kernel_HZ(void)
 		kernel_HZ = get_HZ_by_waiting();
 
 	//if (open_read_close("/proc/uptime", buf, sizeof(buf) <= 0)
-	//	bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot read %s", "/proc/uptime");
+	//	bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't read %s", "/proc/uptime");
 	//buf[sizeof(buf)-1] = '\0';
 	///sscanf(buf, "%llu", &seconds_since_boot);
 	sysinfo(&info);
diff --git a/runit/runsvdir.c b/runit/runsvdir.c
index 492c2a57b..f6aaeb7d4 100644
--- a/runit/runsvdir.c
+++ b/runit/runsvdir.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ struct globals {
 
 static void fatal2_cannot(const char *m1, const char *m2)
 {
-	bb_perror_msg_and_die("%s: fatal: cannot %s%s", svdir, m1, m2);
+	bb_perror_msg_and_die("%s: fatal: can't %s%s", svdir, m1, m2);
 	/* was exiting 100 */
 }
 static void warn3x(const char *m1, const char *m2, const char *m3)
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ static void warn3x(const char *m1, const char *m2, const char *m3)
 }
 static void warn2_cannot(const char *m1, const char *m2)
 {
-	warn3x("cannot ", m1, m2);
+	warn3x("can't ", m1, m2);
 }
 #if ENABLE_FEATURE_RUNSVDIR_LOG
 static void warnx(const char *m1)
@@ -256,14 +256,14 @@ int runsvdir_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 		if (rploglen < 7) {
 			warnx("log must have at least seven characters");
 		} else if (piped_pair(logpipe)) {
-			warnx("cannot create pipe for log");
+			warnx("can't create pipe for log");
 		} else {
 			close_on_exec_on(logpipe.rd);
 			close_on_exec_on(logpipe.wr);
 			ndelay_on(logpipe.rd);
 			ndelay_on(logpipe.wr);
 			if (dup2(logpipe.wr, 2) == -1) {
-				warnx("cannot set filedescriptor for log");
+				warnx("can't set filedescriptor for log");
 			} else {
 				pfd[0].fd = logpipe.rd;
 				pfd[0].events = POLLIN;
diff --git a/runit/sv.c b/runit/sv.c
index 732c33cea..96ebb749d 100644
--- a/runit/sv.c
+++ b/runit/sv.c
@@ -228,13 +228,13 @@ static int svstatus_get(void)
 			             : failx("runsv not running");
 			return 0;
 		}
-		warn("cannot open supervise/ok");
+		warn("can't open supervise/ok");
 		return -1;
 	}
 	close(fd);
 	fd = open_read("supervise/status");
 	if (fd == -1) {
-		warn("cannot open supervise/status");
+		warn("can't open supervise/status");
 		return -1;
 	}
 	r = read(fd, &svstatus, 20);
@@ -243,11 +243,11 @@ static int svstatus_get(void)
 	case 20:
 		break;
 	case -1:
-		warn("cannot read supervise/status");
+		warn("can't read supervise/status");
 		return -1;
 	default:
 		errno = 0;
-		warn("cannot read supervise/status: bad format");
+		warn("can't read supervise/status: bad format");
 		return -1;
 	}
 	return 1;
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ static unsigned svstatus_print(const char *m)
 
 	if (stat("down", &s) == -1) {
 		if (errno != ENOENT) {
-			bb_perror_msg(WARN"cannot stat %s/down", *service);
+			bb_perror_msg(WARN"can't stat %s/down", *service);
 			return 0;
 		}
 		normallyup = 1;
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ static int status(const char *unused UNUSED_PARAM)
 	r = svstatus_print(*service);
 	if (chdir("log") == -1) {
 		if (errno != ENOENT) {
-			printf("; log: "WARN"cannot change to log service directory: %s",
+			printf("; log: "WARN"can't change to log service directory: %s",
 					strerror(errno));
 		}
 	} else if (svstatus_get()) {
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ static int checkscript(void)
 
 	if (stat("check", &s) == -1) {
 		if (errno == ENOENT) return 1;
-		bb_perror_msg(WARN"cannot stat %s/check", *service);
+		bb_perror_msg(WARN"can't stat %s/check", *service);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	/* if (!(s.st_mode & S_IXUSR)) return 1; */
@@ -330,11 +330,11 @@ static int checkscript(void)
 	prog[1] = NULL;
 	pid = spawn(prog);
 	if (pid <= 0) {
-		bb_perror_msg(WARN"cannot %s child %s/check", "run", *service);
+		bb_perror_msg(WARN"can't %s child %s/check", "run", *service);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	while (safe_waitpid(pid, &w, 0) == -1) {
-		bb_perror_msg(WARN"cannot %s child %s/check", "wait for", *service);
+		bb_perror_msg(WARN"can't %s child %s/check", "wait for", *service);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	return WEXITSTATUS(w) == 0;
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ static int control(const char *a)
 	fd = open_write("supervise/control");
 	if (fd == -1) {
 		if (errno != ENODEV)
-			warn("cannot open supervise/control");
+			warn("can't open supervise/control");
 		else
 			*a == 'x' ? ok("runsv not running") : failx("runsv not running");
 		return -1;
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ static int control(const char *a)
 	r = write(fd, a, l);
 	close(fd);
 	if (r != l) {
-		warn("cannot write to supervise/control");
+		warn("can't write to supervise/control");
 		return -1;
 	}
 	return 1;
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ int sv_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 		}
 		if (chdir(x) == -1) {
  chdir_failed_0:
-			fail("cannot change to service directory");
+			fail("can't change to service directory");
 			goto nullify_service_0;
 		}
 		if (act && (act(acts) == -1)) {
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ int sv_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			}
 			if (chdir(x) == -1) {
  chdir_failed:
-				fail("cannot change to service directory");
+				fail("can't change to service directory");
 				goto nullify_service;
 			}
 			if (cbk(acts) != 0)
diff --git a/selinux/chcon.c b/selinux/chcon.c
index 55c2522f6..4395a7ee4 100644
--- a/selinux/chcon.c
+++ b/selinux/chcon.c
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ static int FAST_FUNC change_filedir_context(
 	}
 	if (status < 0 && errno != ENODATA) {
 		if ((option_mask32 & OPT_QUIET) == 0)
-			bb_error_msg("cannot obtain security context: %s", fname);
+			bb_error_msg("can't obtain security context: %s", fname);
 		goto skip;
 	}
 
 	if (file_context == NULL && specified_context == NULL) {
-		bb_error_msg("cannot apply partial context to unlabeled file %s", fname);
+		bb_error_msg("can't apply partial context to unlabeled file %s", fname);
 		goto skip;
 	}
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ static int FAST_FUNC change_filedir_context(
 		context = set_security_context_component(file_context,
 							 user, role, type, range);
 		if (!context) {
-			bb_error_msg("cannot compute security context from %s", file_context);
+			bb_error_msg("can't compute security context from %s", file_context);
 			goto skip;
 		}
 	} else {
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static int FAST_FUNC change_filedir_context(
 
 	context_string = context_str(context);
 	if (!context_string) {
-		bb_error_msg("cannot obtain security context in text expression");
+		bb_error_msg("can't obtain security context in text expression");
 		goto skip;
 	}
 
diff --git a/selinux/getsebool.c b/selinux/getsebool.c
index b761b72eb..7478b79e1 100644
--- a/selinux/getsebool.c
+++ b/selinux/getsebool.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ int getsebool_main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 		rc = security_get_boolean_names(&names, &len);
 		if (rc)
-			bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot get boolean names");
+			bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't get boolean names");
 
 		if (!len) {
 			puts("No booleans");
diff --git a/selinux/runcon.c b/selinux/runcon.c
index 6ecd7899d..8472b7090 100644
--- a/selinux/runcon.c
+++ b/selinux/runcon.c
@@ -41,13 +41,13 @@ static context_t runcon_compute_new_context(char *user, char *role, char *type,
 	security_context_t cur_context;
 
 	if (getcon(&cur_context))
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot get current context");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't get current context");
 
 	if (compute_trans) {
 		security_context_t file_context, new_context;
 
 		if (getfilecon(command, &file_context) < 0)
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot retrieve attributes of '%s'",
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("can't retrieve attributes of '%s'",
 					     command);
 		if (security_compute_create(cur_context, file_context,
 					    SECCLASS_PROCESS, &new_context))
diff --git a/util-linux/fsck_minix.c b/util-linux/fsck_minix.c
index cc9eec22d..18ea05fec 100644
--- a/util-linux/fsck_minix.c
+++ b/util-linux/fsck_minix.c
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ static void write_superblock(void)
 
 	xlseek(dev_fd, BLOCK_SIZE, SEEK_SET);
 	if (BLOCK_SIZE != full_write(dev_fd, superblock_buffer, BLOCK_SIZE))
-		die("cannot write superblock");
+		die("can't write superblock");
 }
 
 static void write_tables(void)
@@ -573,11 +573,11 @@ static void write_tables(void)
 	write_superblock();
 
 	if (IMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE != write(dev_fd, inode_map, IMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE))
-		die("cannot write inode map");
+		die("can't write inode map");
 	if (ZMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE != write(dev_fd, zone_map, ZMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE))
-		die("cannot write zone map");
+		die("can't write zone map");
 	if (INODE_BUFFER_SIZE != write(dev_fd, inode_buffer, INODE_BUFFER_SIZE))
-		die("cannot write inodes");
+		die("can't write inodes");
 }
 
 static void get_dirsize(void)
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ static void read_superblock(void)
 {
 	xlseek(dev_fd, BLOCK_SIZE, SEEK_SET);
 	if (BLOCK_SIZE != full_read(dev_fd, superblock_buffer, BLOCK_SIZE))
-		die("cannot read superblock");
+		die("can't read superblock");
 	/* already initialized to:
 	namelen = 14;
 	dirsize = 16;
@@ -643,11 +643,11 @@ static void read_tables(void)
 	inode_count = xmalloc(INODES + 1);
 	zone_count = xmalloc(ZONES);
 	if (IMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE != read(dev_fd, inode_map, IMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE))
-		die("cannot read inode map");
+		die("can't read inode map");
 	if (ZMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE != read(dev_fd, zone_map, ZMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE))
-		die("cannot read zone map");
+		die("can't read zone map");
 	if (INODE_BUFFER_SIZE != read(dev_fd, inode_buffer, INODE_BUFFER_SIZE))
-		die("cannot read inodes");
+		die("can't read inodes");
 	if (NORM_FIRSTZONE != FIRSTZONE) {
 		printf("warning: firstzone!=norm_firstzone\n");
 		errors_uncorrected = 1;
diff --git a/util-linux/ipcrm.c b/util-linux/ipcrm.c
index 5e18c2846..8b0b226d3 100644
--- a/util-linux/ipcrm.c
+++ b/util-linux/ipcrm.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ static int remove_ids(type_id type, int argc, char **argv)
 				ret = shmctl(id, IPC_RMID, NULL);
 
 			if (ret) {
-				bb_perror_msg("cannot remove id %s", argv[0]);
+				bb_perror_msg("can't remove id %s", argv[0]);
 				nb_errors++;
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/util-linux/mkfs_minix.c b/util-linux/mkfs_minix.c
index 8819cee4e..c6c2036ea 100644
--- a/util-linux/mkfs_minix.c
+++ b/util-linux/mkfs_minix.c
@@ -243,22 +243,22 @@ static void write_tables(void)
 	msg_eol = "seek to 0 failed";
 	xlseek(dev_fd, 0, SEEK_SET);
 
-	msg_eol = "cannot clear boot sector";
+	msg_eol = "can't clear boot sector";
 	xwrite(dev_fd, G.boot_block_buffer, 512);
 
 	msg_eol = "seek to BLOCK_SIZE failed";
 	xlseek(dev_fd, BLOCK_SIZE, SEEK_SET);
 
-	msg_eol = "cannot write superblock";
+	msg_eol = "can't write superblock";
 	xwrite(dev_fd, G.superblock_buffer, BLOCK_SIZE);
 
-	msg_eol = "cannot write inode map";
+	msg_eol = "can't write inode map";
 	xwrite(dev_fd, G.inode_map, SB_IMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE);
 
-	msg_eol = "cannot write zone map";
+	msg_eol = "can't write zone map";
 	xwrite(dev_fd, G.zone_map, SB_ZMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE);
 
-	msg_eol = "cannot write inodes";
+	msg_eol = "can't write inodes";
 	xwrite(dev_fd, G.inode_buffer, INODE_BUFFER_SIZE);
 
 	msg_eol = "\n";
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ int mkfs_minix_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 
 	xmove_fd(xopen(G.device_name, O_RDWR), dev_fd);
 	if (fstat(dev_fd, &statbuf) < 0)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot stat %s", G.device_name);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("can't stat %s", G.device_name);
 	if (!S_ISBLK(statbuf.st_mode))
 		opt &= ~1; // clear -c (check)
 
diff --git a/util-linux/mount.c b/util-linux/mount.c
index 1c5137376..30037f9ab 100644
--- a/util-linux/mount.c
+++ b/util-linux/mount.c
@@ -1710,7 +1710,7 @@ static int singlemount(struct mntent *mp, int ignore_busy)
 				if (errno == EPERM || errno == EACCES)
 					bb_error_msg(bb_msg_perm_denied_are_you_root);
 				else
-					bb_perror_msg("cannot setup loop device");
+					bb_perror_msg("can't setup loop device");
 				return errno;
 			}
 
@@ -1915,7 +1915,7 @@ int mount_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	}
 	fstab = setmntent(fstabname, "r");
 	if (!fstab)
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot read %s", fstabname);
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't read %s", fstabname);
 
 	// Loop through entries until we find what we're looking for
 	memset(mtpair, 0, sizeof(mtpair));
diff --git a/util-linux/rdate.c b/util-linux/rdate.c
index 0880edff5..f257d5438 100644
--- a/util-linux/rdate.c
+++ b/util-linux/rdate.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int rdate_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			bb_error_msg("current time matches remote time");
 		else
 			if (stime(&remote_time) < 0)
-				bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot set time of day");
+				bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't set time of day");
 	}
 
 	if ((flags & 1) == 0)
diff --git a/util-linux/volume_id/volume_id.c b/util-linux/volume_id/volume_id.c
index 4826c2e65..c8cf946df 100644
--- a/util-linux/volume_id/volume_id.c
+++ b/util-linux/volume_id/volume_id.c
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ struct volume_id* FAST_FUNC volume_id_open_dev_t(dev_t devt)
 	/* create temporary node to open block device */
 	unlink(tmp_node);
 	if (mknod(tmp_node, (S_IFBLK | 0600), devt) != 0)
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot mknod(%s)", tmp_node);
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("can't mknod(%s)", tmp_node);
 
 	id = volume_id_open_node(tmp_node);
 	unlink(tmp_node);