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Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3b (2026)

Singular and plural; gender.

✓ current as of July 2026
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Revised Statutes of 1846


R.S. of 1846


8.3b Singular and plural; gender.

Sec. 3b.

    Every word importing the singular number only may extend to and embrace the plural number, and every word importing the plural number may be applied and limited to the singular number. Every word importing the masculine gender only may extend and be applied to females as well as males.

History: Add. 1959, Act 189, Imd. Eff. July 22, 1959

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 34 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: Twp. of Casco v. Sec'y of State, 701 N.W.2d 102 (Mich. 2005).
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Twp. of Casco v. Sec'y of State, 701 N.W.2d 102 (Mich. 2005). · cites it 10× “" [56] While it is true that MCL 8.3b states that, in construing statutes, "[e]very word importing the singular number only may extend to and embrace the plural number," it is important to remember that MCL 8.”
Robinson v. City of Detroit, 613 N.W.2d 307 (Mich. 2000). · cites it 4× “MCL 8.3b; MSA 2.212(2). Yet, in a statute where the Legislature referred to one or "the" proximate cause, the majority refuses to include several proximate causes, thereby finding the need to overrule Dedes .”
Empire Iron Mining P'ship v. Orhanen, 565 N.W.2d 844 (Mich. 1997). · cites it 7× “§ 8.3b; M.S.A. § 2.212(2), for support in reading "an employer" to mean "any number of employers.”
People v. Perry, 895 N.W.2d 216 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “) As the prosecution observes, the statute refers to “bank bill” or “note” in the singular, but MCL 8.3b provides: Every word importing the singular number only may extend to and embrace the plural number, and every word importing the plural number may be applied and limited to…”
People v. Idziak, 773 N.W.2d 616 (Mich. 2009). · cites it 2× “[15] This is *643 made clear by MCL 8.3b, which provides that in construing statutes, [e]very word importing the singular number only may extend to and embrace the plural number, and every word importing the plural number may be applied and limited to the singular number.”
Potter v. McLeary, 774 N.W.2d 1 (Mich. 2009). · cites it 2× “" See MCL 8.3b, which provides that "every word importing the plural number may be applied and limited to the singular number.”
Barrow v. City of Detroit Election Comm'n, 305 Mich. App. 649 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014). “See MCL 8.3b (“Every word importing the singular number only may extend to and embrace the plural number, and evexy word importing the plural number may be applied and limited to the singular number.”
People v. Giovannini, 722 N.W.2d 237 (Mich. Ct. App. 2006). “MCL 8.3b; MSA 2.212(2) provides in pertinent part: “Every word importing the singular number only may extend to and embrace the plural number, and every word importing the plural number may be applied and limited to the singular number.”
People v. Albers, 672 N.W.2d 336 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). “” MCL 8.3b. Further, if the Legislature had intended to limit the application of ov 3 to the victim of the charged offense, it could have expressly included such a provision in the statute.”
Branch Cnty. Bd. of Comm'rs v. Int'l Union, United Auto., Aerospace & Agric. Implement Workers, 677 N.W.2d 333 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 3× “Alternatively, we are urged to apply MCL 8.3b, which provides that “[e]very word importing the singular number only may extend to and embrace the *200 plural number” and conclude that the reference to a singular deputy in MCL 53.”
People v. Harper, 269 N.W.2d 470 (Mich. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 2× “This finding is based upon MCL 8.3b; MSA 2.212(2), which provides "years" may be construed as "year", and under MCL 8.”
Sclafani v. Dom. Violence Escape, 660 N.W.2d 97 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “MCL 8.3b provides: “Every word importing the singular number only may extend to and embrace the plural number, and every word importing the plural number may be applied and limited to the singular number.”
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