REDDENDO SINGULAR SINGULIS:
The rule may be stated from an Irish case in the following words: “where there are
general words of description, following an enumeration of particular things such general words
are to be construed distributively, reddendo singular singulis; and if the general words will apply
to some things and not to others the general words are to be applied to those things to which
they will, and not to these to which they will not apply; that rule is beyond all controversy”. Thus,
‘I devise and bequeath all my real and personal property to A’ will be construed, reddendo
singular singulis by applying ‘devise’ to ‘real’ property and ‘bequeath’ to ‘personal’ property, and
in the sentence; ‘If any one shall draw or load any sword or gun’ the word ‘draw’ is applied to
‘sword’ only and the word ‘load’ to ‘gun’ only, because it is impossible to load a sword or draw a
Another example of the application of the rule is found in the construction of the proviso
to article 304 of the constitution which reads: ‘provided that no bill or amendment for the
purpose of clause (b) shall be introduced or moved in the Legislature of a state without the
previous sanction of the President’. It was held by the supreme Court that the word ‘introduced’
referred to ‘Bill’ and the word ‘moved’ to Amendment’.
The rule may be stated from an Irish case in the following words: “where there are
general words of description, following an enumeration of particular things such general words
are to be construed distributively, reddendo singular singulis; and if the general words will apply
to some things and not to others the general words are to be applied to those things to which
they will, and not to these to which they will not apply; that rule is beyond all controversy”. Thus,
‘I devise and bequeath all my real and personal property to A’ will be construed, reddendo
singular singulis by applying ‘devise’ to ‘real’ property and ‘bequeath’ to ‘personal’ property, and
in the sentence; ‘If any one shall draw or load any sword or gun’ the word ‘draw’ is applied to
‘sword’ only and the word ‘load’ to ‘gun’ only, because it is impossible to load a sword or draw a
Another example of the application of the rule is found in the construction of the proviso
to article 304 of the constitution which reads: ‘provided that no bill or amendment for the
purpose of clause (b) shall be introduced or moved in the Legislature of a state without the
previous sanction of the President’. It was held by the supreme Court that the word ‘introduced’
referred to ‘Bill’ and the word ‘moved’ to Amendment’.
