By Smaktakula

Although the poncey contraction shan’t has long since gone the way of the dodo, its equally-insufferable positive counterpart shall still clings tenaciously to the underbelly of common usage.

It’s time to let shall die.

Shall has been a loyal servant of the English language for centuries, and the intransitive verb’s flexibility has been, along with spinster 8th grade English teachers, the secret to its staying power.

But for every usage of shall, a non-antiquated verb substitutes nicely: should, will, are and must are but a few.  Keeping this useless verb on hand for nostalgia’s sake only perpetuates the degradation of shall’s once-proud legacy.

Your Tax Money Keeps This Word Alive.