MUST or HAVE TO?

by Ernesto
(Italy)

Hi Ola,

I'd like to know the difference between MUST and HAVE TO as far as school rules are concerned.

I mean, is it better or more correct to use MUST or HAVE TO?

For example:

Students must wear uniforms. / Students have to wear uniforms.
Student must do their homework. / Students have to do their homework.
Students must be punctual. / Students have to be punctual.
And so on, and so on.

In the above examples, the obligation comes from school authorities, but they are about rules as well.

So, which is better or more correct: MUST or HAVE TO?

Thanks a lot,
Ernesto

Ola's answer:

Hi Ernesto,

Both MUST and HAVE TO express obligation.

In British English there is some difference between them.

MUST is used to talk about what the person himself wants.

For example: "I must park my car over there. Otherwise, I will have to walk around the fence."

(Meaning: It is my wish to park my car over there.)

HAVE TO is used to talk about rules, laws, etc.

For example: "I have to park my car over there. If I park on the pavement, I will get a ticket."

(Meaning: there is a rule which states I cannot park on the pavement.)

So in British English, I would use HAVE TO for these sentences:

Students have to wear uniforms.
Students have to do their homework.
Students have to be punctual.

For more information:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv127.shtml