[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR171.9]

[Page 95-96]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 171_GENERAL INFORMATION, REGULATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  171.9  Rules of construction.

    (a) In this subchapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
    (1) Words imparting the singular include the plural;
    (2) Words imparting the plural include the singular; and
    (3) Words imparting the masculine gender include the feminine;
    (b) In this subchapter, the word: (1) ``Shall'' is used in an 
imperative sense;
    (2) ``Must'' is used in an imperative sense;
    (3) ``Should'' is used in a recommendatory sense;
    (4) ``May'' is used in a permissive sense to state authority or 
permission to do the act described, and the words ``no person may * * 
*'' or ``a person may not * * *'' means that no person is required, 
authorized, or permitted to do the act described; and

[[Page 96]]

    (5) ``Includes'' is used as a word of inclusion not limitation.

[Amdt. 171-32, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 171-32A, 
41 FR 40630, Sept. 20, 1976; Amdt. 171-121, 58 FR 51528, Oct. 1, 1993]