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Historical textIn force on Jan. 18, 2017Source: eCFR

§ 390.7 Rules of construction.

Wording first on file in the 1996 annual edition, superseded April 16, 2018.

eCFR as of January 18, 2017 ↗
49 CFR § 390.7 — Rules of construction.. Text in force on January 18, 2017. This wording effective October 1, 1996 to April 16, 2018. Source: eCFR as of January 18, 2017, https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2017-01-18/title-49/section-390.7. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/390.7?asof=2017-01-18, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) In part 325 of subchapter A and in this subchapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) Words imparting the singular include the plural;

(2) Words imparting the plural include the singular;

(3) Words imparting the present tense include the future tense.

(b) In this subchapter the word -

(1) Officer includes any person authorized by law to perform the duties of the office;

(2) Writing includes printing and typewriting;

(3) Shall is used in an imperative sense;

(4) Must is used in an imperative sense;

(5) Should is used in a recommendatory sense;

(6) May is used in a permissive sense; and

(7) Includes is used as a word of inclusion, not limitation.

[53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 60 FR 38744, July 28, 1995]

Amendment history

3 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. June 15, 2018 → presenteCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 60 FR 38744, July 28, 1995; 83 FR 16226, Apr. 16, 2018]
  2. April 16, 2018 → June 15, 2018eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 60 FR 38744, July 28, 1995]
  3. Oct. 1, 1996 → April 16, 2018annual editions 1996–2016viewing
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 60 FR 38744, July 28, 1995]

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.