“Shall” and “Will”

Grammar and usage experts get themselves into a lather on the finer points of this issue, and the English have an elabo­rate system that Americans are sometimes taught in school but stubbornly refuse to use. But we’ll spare you the English sys­tem here. Just keep in mind that in formal (American) speech or writing, “shall” is the correct form of “to be” for the first person (“I” or “we”) in the future and future perfect tenses. Clearly, though, “shall” is not a word you hear every day, and the negative contraction of “shall,” “shan’t” (the functional equivalent of “won’t”), sounds downright odd to American ears. A sentence such as I shan’t have any grits today, thank you would draw stares at your local diner. Most Americans simply use “will” and “won’t” in place of “shall” and “shan’t,” and it would be hard to find someone who frowns on this in ordinary conversation. However, when you wish to write or speak with the highest degree of precision and formality, use “shall” in the first person. And we shan’t trouble you any more on this matter.