If the sentence is evidenced, what should be used (v. to be) or (must be)?

Question

In these two examples according to the 1st one what should the 2nd one be?

(1) He (must be) an officer. He wears a uniform and has a gun.

(2) John____a doctor. He wears an ID and people call him Dr John.

a) is  b) must be

Me and my friends discussed it but we still can’t get it. 
some of us think that John is 100% a doctor so it’s (is) as it’s a fact

The other ones think that because there’s a justification in the example so it’s (must be) as if the sentence was (he is a doctor) it wouldn’t be necessary to give a justification. 
So which one is true?

dmms · Answer

The "must be" version implies a kind of logic: Those who wear an ID and are referred to by the title "doctor" are then necessarily doctors. The named attributes of badge and title determine John's profession. The "is" version simply adds information about John the doctor (he wears a badge, people call him doctor, he drives expensive cars, he works long hours, etc.).

Answered by dmms on May 27, 2021

If the sentence is evidenced, what should be used (v. to be) or (must be)?

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