# 14 CFR § 1.3: Rules of construction

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-1.3

## Section

- **Citation:** 14 CFR § 1.3
- **Heading:** Rules of construction
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 14—Aeronautics and Space > CHAPTER I—FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION > SUBCHAPTER A—DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS > PART 1—DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

## Text

(a) In this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) Words importing the singular include the plural;
(2) Words importing the plural include the singular; and
(3) Words importing the masculine gender include the feminine.
(b) In this chapter, the word:
(1) Shall is used in an imperative sense;
(2) May is used in a permissive sense to state authority or permission to do the act prescribed, and the words “no person may * * *” or “a person may not * * *” mean that no person is required, authorized, or permitted to do the act prescribed; and
(3) Includes means “includes but is not limited to”.
[Doc. No. 1150, 27 FR 4590, May 15, 1962, as amended by Amdt. 1-10, 31 FR 5055, Mar. 29, 1966; FAA-2023-1275, Amdt. No. 1-78, 89 FR 92483, Nov. 21, 2024]

## Nearby sections

- [14 CFR § 1.1 § 1.1 General definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-1.1.md)
- [14 CFR § 1.2 § 1.2 Abbreviations and symbols.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-1.2.md)
- [14 CFR § 1.3 § 1.3 Rules of construction.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-1.3.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-1.3. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.