New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. General Construction Law § 35 (2026)

Number, singular and plural

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section NY-LEGnysenate.gov Justiaon Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
§ 35. Number, singular and plural. Words in the singular number
include the plural, and in the plural number include the singular.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases, 1979–2020 · leading case: People v. Alston, 670 N.E.2d 426 (NY 1996).
People v. Alston, 670 N.E.2d 426 (NY 1996). · cites it 8× “[emphasis supplied]), and a statutory rule of construction requires that "[w]ords in the singular number include the plural, and in the plural number include the singular" (General Construction Law § 35). Thus, "challenges" as used here in the phrase "the people must exercise…”
People v. Buckley, 552 N.E.2d 160 (NY 1990). “The General Construction Law provides, however, that "[w]ords in the singular number include the plural, and in the plural number include the singular” (General Construction Law § 35).”
Tepper v. Galloway, 481 F. Supp. 1211 (E.D.N.Y 1979). “Justice Orgera’s accompanying memorandum noted that, under General Construction Law § 35, “words in the singular number include the plural, and in the plural number include the singular.”
Vega v. Fischer, 91 A.D.3d 1007 (N.Y. App. Div. 2012). “” Where petitioner’s conduct was directed specifically at the female correction officers who were assigned to work in the unit in which he was housed, we find such conduct directed at “specific employee[s]” within the language of the rule (see General Construction Law § 35; see…”
People v. Fernandez, 173 Misc. 2d 938 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1997). “Under the General Construction Law, words in the singular include the plural (General Construction Law § 35; People v Buckley, 75 NY2d 843, 846 ).”
People v. Gellineau, 178 Misc. 2d 790 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1998). “As stated in People v Buckley ( 75 NY2d 843, 846 ): “The General Construction Law provides, however, that ‘[w]ords in the singular number include the plural, and in the plural number include the singular’ (General Construction Law § 35). This rule of construction ‘is applicable…”
Carmille A. v. David A., 162 Misc. 2d 22 (N.Y.C. Fam. Ct. 1994). “The utilization of the term "failure” in the singular in section 846-a and the term "a finding that the respondent willfully failed to obey the order” in the singular in section 846 implicates the plural (General Construction Law § 35; McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Book 1,…”
People v. Williams, 132 Misc. 2d 858 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1986). · cites it 2× “” There would seem to be no appreciable difference between a psychiatric examination being properly ordered after a second trial becomes necessary because of a reversal of the defendant’s conviction, and such examination being ordered after a second trial becomes necessary…”
Castro v. Fischer, 91 A.D.3d 1013 (N.Y. App. Div. 2012). “In addition, the regulation’s requirement that a “specific employee” be affected was satisfied inasmuch as petitioner’s conduct was directed specifically toward the group of female correction officers who were assigned to work in the unit in which he was housed (see General…”
In re Jacob, 210 A.D.2d 876 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994). “That rule of statutory construction currently appears in General Construction Law §35. Thus, the statutory phrase "[a]n adult unmarried person” must be read to include "adult unmarried persons” unless the "general object, or the context of the language construed, or other…”
People v. Reed, 265 A.D.2d 56 (2000). · cites it 2× “At the outset, General Construction Law § 35 expressly states that “[w]ords in the singular number include the plural” (General Construction Law § 35; see, People v Fernandez, 173 Misc 2d 938, 946 ).”
Toys\ R\" US v. Silva", 676 N.E.2d 862 (1996). “Petitioner, however, overlooks the basic rule of statutory construction that "[wjords in the singular number include the plural, and in the plural number include the singular” (General Construction Law § 35).”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.