Pennsylvania Code
Title 101 - GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Part I - LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU
Subpart C - LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING MANUAL
Chapter 15 - STATUTES
Subchapter C - STYLE AND LANGUAGE
GRAMMAR
Section 15.112 - Mood
Universal Citation: 101 PA Code ยง 15.112
Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) General. The indicative rather than the subjunctive mood should be used in statutes. The subjunctive mood has no place in a statute since a statute deals with facts and not with hypothetical cases.
(b) Use of "shall." The word "shall" should not be used in a statute to state a legal result (false imperative) but should be used in mandatory statutes requiring a certain legal act.
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