Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!ames!ncar!tank!mimsy!chris
From: chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: conform/comply will/shall
Keywords: standards!
Message-ID: <18344@mimsy.UUCP>
Date: 1 Jul 89 04:48:08 GMT
References: <5397@b11.ingr.com>
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 14

In article <5397@b11.ingr.com> goodloe@b11.ingr.com (Tony Goodloe) writes:
>With regard to standards: What is the difference between conform and
>comply? What is the difference between will and shall?

The use of these terms in standards matches that in formal English:
I shall, you will, he will: I think.  I will, you shall, she shall:
or else.  As standards are written in third person, `shall' means
that there is some force backing up the statement.

To comply with a standard, you conform to it: one complies with rules,
and conforms to shapes (including patterns of behaviour).
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7163)
Domain:	chris@mimsy.umd.edu	Path:	uunet!mimsy!chris