Rules Of Interpretation Definition

The rules of interpretation definition are a set of guidelines that courts use to determine the meaning of statutes and other legal documents. The purpose of these rules is to promote fairness and consistency in the interpretation of the law.

There are three main types of rules of interpretation: textual, purposive, and practical. Textual rules focus on the literal meaning of the words used in a document. Purposive rules look at the intent behind the words. Practical rules consider the effects of an interpretation on real-world situations.

Courts will often use more than one type of rule when interpreting a statute or legal document. However, they will typically give greater weight to one type over another depending on the context.

Textual Rules

The most common type of textual rule is the plain meaning rule. This rule says that courts should interpret statutory language according to its ordinary, everyday meaning. If the meaning of a word or phrase is clear from its context, then that is generally what the court will adopt as its meaning.

There are some exceptions to the plain meaning rule. One exception is known as the ejusdem generis rule. This rule says that where a list of specific items is followed by a general category, the general category should be interpreted as including only items similar to those specifically listed. Another exception is known as noscitur a sociis, which says that where two or more words are used together in a way that suggests they