Cal. Civ. Code § 5:10-2.1
Tense, gender, and number
Operative Text
Words used in the present tense include the future; words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; words used in the singular include the plural and the plural includes the singular.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-2.1 is a standard rules-of-construction provision that governs how the language throughout the hotel and multiple dwelling regulations is to be read. Under this rule, present-tense verbs also carry future meaning, masculine pronouns cover all genders, and singular and plural forms are interchangeable. This prevents regulated parties or adjudicators from arguing that a requirement does not apply simply because of a grammatical mismatch between the regulation's wording and a particular situation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-2.1 means that property owners and managers cannot rely on grammatical technicalities—such as a regulation using 'he' instead of 'she,' or 'unit' instead of 'units'—to argue that a requirement does not apply to them. Compliant operators read the hotel and multiple dwelling regulations as broadly applicable regardless of tense, gender, or number. Understanding this interpretive rule helps operators apply the full scope of N.J.A.C. § 5:10 consistently across their properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-2.1 establishes that the protections and requirements found throughout the hotel and multiple dwelling regulations apply broadly, regardless of whether the text uses singular or plural forms, masculine or other gendered language, or present versus future tense. This means tenants can look to any provision in N.J.A.C. § 5:10 without worrying that a grammatical detail in the regulation's wording limits its coverage. Tenants who believe a protection applies to their situation may consult a tenant-rights organization for general guidance on how these interpretive rules interact with specific provisions.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.