Anonymous  +  224749 Fri, 12 May 06 04:05 AM Please could anyone explain the difference between shall and will ... not in normal conversation but in formal context such as legal documents. Many thanks. Anonymous Difference Between, Conversations

	Mister Micawber  +  224807 Fri, 12 May 06 08:56 AM In legal documents, rules and regulations, etc, shall often (but not necessarily) replaces will in 2nd and 3rd person statements of obligation or imperative: In normal conversation (actually quite formal in itself, as shall is seldom used any more): I shall/will phone you promptly at 6 a.m. tomorrow. (1st person) You will clean up your room or else! (2nd person) The chairman will see you when he is finished with his current appointment. (3rd person) In legalistic use: The Party of the first part shall pay to the Party of the second part an honorarium of... The chief referee shall be the final arbiter of any infraction. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,754 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Conversations

	julielai  +  225005 Sat, 13 May 06 02:28 AM In my part of the world, "shall" is used for mandates, as in "you shall do this" (ie. you must do this), while "may" is used in permissive language, i.e. you have the authority to do it, but it is not a must. julielai Joined on Sun, Oct 24 2004 Senior Member 3,827 Just another blogger (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/julie-lai) Dates

	Clive  +  225210 Sun, 14 May 06 01:46 AM Hi, Thou shalt not kill. Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,575 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Kathrin  +  414380 Wed, 05 Sep 07 07:03 AM Hi, both are use in generall English as well as in legal English. A) Will = generall English, legal English, B) Shall = generall English, legal English. B 1) But the meaning of 'shall' in a legal context is different, usually it expresses the meaning of must(obligation) or will (in the sense of a promise). Every amendment to this contract shall be in written form. B 2) Shall can also be used to refer to a future action or state. Until one year shall have expired since ... Best regards, Kathrin Kathrin Joined on Fri, May 11 2007 Full Member 152 Is it me or is it the universe? It could be the universe but I am not sure thus I have been still wondering and drinking tea. However, the tea is getting cold. Legal English, Regards