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Home > Forums > Member Moderated > Tek-Tips Groups > Making an Impression Forum

Shall we?Helpful Member! 

thread1256-954004
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Dimandja (Programmer)
18 Nov 04 13:47
What exactly are the differences between "will" and "shall"?

I will do it.
I shall do it.

Are these two sentences conveying different meanings.
donbott (TechnicalUser)
18 Nov 04 13:54
I've usually heard "shall" used in a question "Shall we Dance?", then used in reply to the question. By itself it sounds more emphatic than "will".

DonBott
Helpful Member!  SF0751 (MIS)
18 Nov 04 13:57
There is an excellent article on this subject on Wikipedia. In essence, shall is used to denote obligation, necessity or permission, and will is used to denote resolve or willingness.

Susan
"People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
Stella740pl (Programmer)
18 Nov 04 13:58
I remeber studying it in high school, but don't remeber what's the exact differences are. If I am not mistaken, the difference is in the usage, "shall" is used in the first person [singular?] form, "will" in the 2nd and 3rd (correct me someone, please, it's been a few years already since high school).

What I also can add is as far as I know "shall" is not actually used in USA any more, so now it's mainly a UK thing.
Stella740pl (Programmer)
18 Nov 04 14:01

Oh! Nice article, Susan. So I am not completely off base. Just a tiny bit .
kmcginn (Programmer)
18 Nov 04 14:26
I too learned it as Stella740pl did.  Shall is used with the first person (I, we) and will is used with 2nd (you) and 3rd (he, she, it, they).  I also learned that for emphasis, you change them.

Of course, I learned that many, many years ago and as with everything else, grammar has evolved.  I think now, it is common to use will for everyday, informal use, and shall for more emphasis.
MikeBarone (Programmer)
18 Nov 04 14:27
I write procedures that dictate how roles and responsibilities. When the word SHALL appears, the person is expected to do it. If I write MAY, they are not obligated to perform this task. It is a recommendation.

I like what I read regarding the word WILL being associated to the persons resolve, it makes perfect sense!

Mike Barone
http://www.cgiscript.net

"One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die."

 - Evelyn Waugh
Stella740pl (Programmer)
18 Nov 04 15:00

I write procedures that dictate how roles and responsibilities [do what?].
MikeBarone (Programmer)
18 Nov 04 15:05
Opps, thanks, I rewrote that sentence and left HOW in there by accident.

Mike Barone
http://www.cgiscript.net

"One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die."

 - Evelyn Waugh
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