---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 1.3"
title: "14"
number: "1.3"
heading: "Rules of construction."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/1.3"
---

# §1.3. Rules of construction.

- (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”.

## Notes

### Amendments

[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]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701.

### Amendments

[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]