Note that I said “will continue.” The English language has two conjugations that each indicate the future tense. So instead of saying “will continue” I might have said “shall continue.” Yet that would not have communicated the same message because will and shall, although both carrying the same denotation, have very different connotations.
I’ve read different treatments regarding the use of shall and will, and I don’t agree with all of it. Some say that shall indicates an opinion or preference whereas will indicates a prediction, yet these same authors also claim that shall is used to express a requirement or a determination, both of which are something akin to a prediction.
I take a much more simple view of the differences. Use shall when the connotation is more formal, and use will when the connotation is more informal. Let’s look at some examples.
The real difference between shall and will is in connotation. That’s why procedures and regulations often include shall rather than will; procedures and regulations are more formal by nature. That’s also why will is much more common in spoken English than shall; using a word with a connotation of less formality is more appropriate for spoken English, which often has less formality than written English.
More effective technical writing always uses precise language. And precise language shall use shall appropriately. Use the right word for the intended context, and your writing will better communicate your intended message. And that makes for a better representation of both you and your brands.
Happy holidays to all, and I'll see you back here with more tips in 2016!