Comments on: New Adams NYLJ Article on “Shall” http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2007/10/18/new-nylj-article-on-shall/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:23:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: D. C. http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2007/10/18/new-nylj-article-on-shall/comment-page-1/#comment-10681 D. C. Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:01:16 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2007/10/18/new-nylj-article-on-shall/#comment-10681 My sense over the years has been that business people are just a hair more comfortable with "will," because it seems to have a less-imperious, more-collaborative feel to it than shall or must. Perhaps "will" is technically incorrect, but it wouldn't be the first time language had evolved to suit the perceived needs of its users. (On a related note, I've given up hope that people will come to their senses and stop using "impact" as a verb. And hearing someone talk about the "attendees" at a meeting is like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard.) My sense over the years has been that business people are just a hair more comfortable with “will,” because it seems to have a less-imperious, more-collaborative feel to it than shall or must.

Perhaps “will” is technically incorrect, but it wouldn’t be the first time language had evolved to suit the perceived needs of its users. (On a related note, I’ve given up hope that people will come to their senses and stop using “impact” as a verb. And hearing someone talk about the “attendees” at a meeting is like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard.)

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