Is it really wise for design documents to rely on nuances of language? How many of your readers could you reasonably assume have read RFC 2119? How many of your readers could you reasonably assume to be native English speakers? How many native English speakers would be able to comfortably articulate the difference between "shall" and "should"?
And no, not every design document is intended for professionally-licensed engineers, safety-critical applications, or to be used in legal courts. Even when safety is not at stake, writing remains important.
If you find yourself relying on technical and prescriptive descriptions of language use, isn't it perhaps a good idea to think about what exactly you're trying to convey?
And no, not every design document is intended for professionally-licensed engineers, safety-critical applications, or to be used in legal courts. Even when safety is not at stake, writing remains important.
If you find yourself relying on technical and prescriptive descriptions of language use, isn't it perhaps a good idea to think about what exactly you're trying to convey?