DELAWARE 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
CODE 

 Drafting and Style Manual 
March 2006 Edition 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

PREFACE


The Division of Research was created by the Delaware General Assembly to act as a 
reference bureau for information relating or pertaining to legislative matters and subjects of 
interest to the Senate and House of Representatives. 

Among the services provided is the publication of regulations submitted by executive branch 
agencies to the Registrar of Regulations. This document enables interested citizens to find all 
of the regulations proposed by any state agency in one convenient location. The monthly 
Delaware Register of Regulations is available in hardcopy and can also be found on-line at: 

http://regulations.delaware.gov/ 

The composition and style guidelines in this manual are intended to provide editorial 
assistance in drafting documents to be published in the monthly Delaware Register of 
Regulations and the Delaware Administrative Code. These guidelines are not intended to be 
inflexible rules, nor are they complete in scope. The staff of the Registrar’s office hopes that use 
of these suggestions, together with attention to proper English usage, will produce greater 
clarity and accuracy in the texts of official documents. 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

INTRODUCTION


Statutory Authority provides a condensed summary of administrative law and is commonly 
referred to as the Administrative Procedures Act, located in Title 29, Chapter 101 of the 
Delaware Code. The key principle is that a state agency must have the legal authority to adopt 
a regulation. 

Customary Language and Usage covers the basic style and format in which executive 
agency regulations traditionally appear in Delaware. Regulations should be uniform in style and 
language conventions and be drafted in a clear and concise manner, since they impose certain 
requirements or restrictions on individuals’ rights. The guidelines contained herein are similar to 
those used by the Division of Research when drafting legislation. 

Questions regarding regulatory drafting or this manual should be directed to the Registrar’s 
Office by phone at 302-744-4327, by E-mail at Jeffrey.Hague@state.de.us or via the Internet at: 

http://regulations.delaware.gov/ 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

Statutory Authority 

1.1 General Information 
Generally, the principle of separation of powers states that under our federal and 
state constitutions, the legislative branch, enacts laws while the executive branch carries out the 
laws. In accordance with this principle, an administrative agency does not have authority to 
enact law. The Delaware Code contains the following broad delegation of rulemaking power to 
Delaware executive agencies: 

“The General Assembly has conferred on Boards, Commissions, Departments 
and other agencies of the Executive Branch of State Government the authority to 
adopt regulations...” (29 Del.C. §1131). 

Pursuant to this provision, the Delaware General Assembly enacts laws that direct a specific 
state agency to adopt regulations that include details of, implementing, executing, embellishing 
upon, or clarifying a specific statutory scheme. If an agency adopts a regulation that falls 
outside of the rulemaking powers delegated by statute to that agency, then the regulation does 
not fall within statutory authority and is theoretically deemed invalid. 

1.2 Citing the Proper Statute as Authority for Adopting Regulations 
Agencies should not, in general, cite any of the provisions in chapter 101 of Title 29 of 
the Delaware Code as statutory authority. Although this chapter contains the provisions 
governing the rulemaking process all agencies must follow, agencies should refer to the 
language in the statutes that detail the adoption of regulations into their particular agency. 

1.3 Failure to Implement the Law as Directed by Statutory Authority 
Repeating existing statutory information should be avoided when drafting regulations. 
Redundant text is unnecessary because a statute may be amended, thereby requiring an 
amendment to the regulation. Instead, regulations should reflect what is set forth in a statutory 
scheme. For example, suppose a statute states: 

“Any other provision of this chapter notwithstanding, the Court or the 
Department in making a determination as to what damages shall be paid by the 
Department shall consider only 2 factors...” 

Any corresponding regulations should actually list those factors the department feels 
necessary for a person to comply with in order to be granted a license. To only state in the 
regulations that the Department shall only consider “2 factors” is insufficient information. 

1.4 Exceeding Statutory Authority 
When drafting regulations, each agency must scrutinize the authorizing statute to 
determine the extent to which the General Assembly has assigned rulemaking authority. 
Similarly, a statute that authorizes regulations to govern the issuance of a building 
permit does not, on its own, authorize the regulations to provide for the suspension, renewal or 
revocation of such permit. 

In addition, regardless of whether the authorizing statute is general or confining, 
certain types of provisions - such as penalties, the right to appeal to the courts etc. - require 
specific statutory authority. 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

1.5 Regulation Validity 
In order for a regulation to be valid, an agency must comply with the rulemaking 
process set forth in the Delaware Code. Title 29, Chapter 101, §10102 (7) defines a regulation 
as follows: 

(7) “Regulation” means any statement of law, procedure, policy, right, 
requirement or prohibition formulated and promulgated by an agency as a rule or 
standard, or as a guide for the decision of cases thereafter by it or by any other 
agency, authority or court. Such statements do not include locally operative 
highway signs or markers, or an agency's explanation of or reasons for its 
decision of a case, advisory ruling or opinion given upon a hypothetical or other 
stated fact situation or terms of an injunctive order or license.” 
According to the definition, if an agency drafts any directive that includes law, 
procedure, policy, right, requirement or prohibition formulated and promulgated by an agency as 
a rule or standard, or as a guide for the decision of cases thereafter by it or by any other agency, 
authority or court, that statement is considered a regulation. 

1.6 Conclusion: 
• Avoid redundancy or paraphrasing the provisions of the Delaware Code in a 
regulation. Make sure the regulations actually implement the program or statutory 
outline. 
• All directives affecting individuals regardless of the terminology the agency 
uses, should be adopted as regulations pursuant to the rulemaking process 
set forth in Title 29, chapter 101. 
2.0 Standard Document Format 
2.1 Submission Guidelines: 
2.1.1 Documents must be submitted to the Registrar’s office no later than the 
15th of the month for publication on the first of the following month issue of the Register. 
2.1.2 Documents should be submitted to the Registrar in electronic format. 
2.1.3 Proposed Regulations filed electronically should include: 
2.1.3.1 Text of the proposed regulation formatted to the specifications of 
the Registrar as outlined in section 2.1.3. 
2.1.3.2 Notice of Public Hearing and/or Notice of Public Comment 
Period, including agency contact information and the method of submitting comments. 
2.1.3.3 A summary of the regulatory action when available. 
2.1.3.4 The entire text of a regulation should be submitted if the 
regulation has not been through the APA process. 
2.1.4 Final Regulations filed electronically should include: 
2.1.4.1 Order adopting the Final Regulation. 
2.1.4.2 A summary of the regulatory action when available. 
2.1.4.3 Text of the Final Regulation formatted to the specifications of the 
Registrar as outlined in section 2.1.3. 
2.1.4.4 A non-marked up version of the regulation as amended. 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

2.1.4.5 Any other supporting documents such as a Hearing Officers 
report, etc. as deemed appropriate by the submitting agency. 
2.1.4.6 The entire text of a regulation should be submitted where 
possible. 
2.2 Header (See Figure 2.1) 
2.2.1 The beginning page of each document submitted should contain an identifying 
heading including: 
2.2.2 The complete name of the promulgating agency including division and 
subdivision if applicable, typed in the upper left corner of each page, flush with the left margin; 
and 
2.2.3 The Delaware Administrative Code citation, if assigned. 
2.2.4 The statutory authority to promulgate the regulation, flush with the left margin. 
Figure 2.1
Header Example


Agency Name 
Division Name 
Subdivision Name 
Delaware Administrative Code citation (if assigned) 
Statutory Authority: Title Delaware Code, Section (Title Del.C. Section) 

2.3 Numbering 
2.3.1 Regulatory text should be numbered with numerals only. 
2.3.2 Start out with a 1.0 as the first section and number down tabbing in one level 
for additional subsection. See Figure 2.2 for an example. 
Figure 2.2 
Numbering a regulation


Example: 

3.0 Use of Designations 
3.1 Designation “Certified Public Accountant” and the Abbreviation “CPA” in 
the Practice of Certified or Public Accountancy: 
3.1.1 Only the following individuals and entities may use the designation 
“certified public accountant”, the abbreviation “CPA”, and other designations 
which suggest that the user is a certified public accountant, in the practice of 
certified or public accountancy: 
3.1.1.1 An individual who is registered with the Board and holds a 
certificate of certified public accountant and a current permit to practice. 
3.1.1.2 A sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or any other 
entity authorized under Delaware law or a similar statute of another state which is 
registered with the Board and holds a current firm permit to practice. 
3.2 Designation “Certified Public Accountant” and the abbreviation “CPA” 
by certificate holders who do not maintain a permit to practice: 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

3.2.1 An individual who holds a certificate of certified public accountant 
but does not maintain a permit to practice may use the designation “certified 
public accountant” or the abbreviation “CPA” on business cards and stationery if: 
3.2.1.1 The certificate of certified public accountant has not been 
suspended or revoked and is in good standing. 
3.2.1.2 The individual does not engage in the practice of certified or 
public accountancy and does not offer to perform certified or public accountancy 
services. 
2.4 Body of text. 
2.4.1 All documents should be typed in conventional uppercase and lowercase 
format. 
2.4.2 Documents should be typed in Arial font face and 12 point font size. 
Automatic numbering and bullets function of the software should not be used. 
2.4.3 Proposed Regulations: 
2.4.3.1 Proposed changes from an existing regulation must be indicated 
as follows: 
2.4.3.1.1 Arial type shall indicate the text existing prior to the 
regulation being promulgated 
2.4.3.1.2 Underlined text must be used to indicate new text. 
2.4.3.1.3 Language which is stricken through shall indicate text 
being deleted. 
2.4.3.2 If a new regulation is being proposed, all language must be 
underlined. 
2.4.4 Final Regulations: 
2.4.3.2 Final Regulations must be formatted as follows: 
2.4.3.2.1 Arial type must be used indicate the text existing prior to 
the regulation being promulgated. 
2.4.3.2.2 Underlined text must be used to indicate new text added 
at the time of the proposed action. 
2.4.3.2.3 Language which is stricken through shall indicate text 
being deleted at the time of the proposed action. 
2.4.3.2.4 [Bracketed bold language] must be used to indicate text 
added between when the regulation was proposed and the time the final order is issued. 
2.4.3.2.5 [Bracketed bold stricken through] must be used to 
indicate language deleted between when the regulation was proposed and the time the final 
order is issued. 
2.5 Footnotes. 
2.5.1 Footnotes, if used, should be referenced at the end of the regulation. The use 
of footnotes should be kept to a minimum. 
2.6 Appendices. 
2.6.1 Avoid using appendices as part of a regulation. Material important enough to 
be set out should be made part of the regulation itself and numbered accordingly. Appendices 
are not considered to be part of the regulation proper and may not be published in the 
Delaware Register of Regulations. 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

Structure Of Regulations 

3.1 Definitions (See Figure 3.1) 
3.1.1 It is recommended that definitions of terms be included in each regulation. 
Definitions provide clarification to terms used within a regulation and allow the regulation writer 
to control the meaning of a word. Define a term only when the meaning of a word is important 
and it is used more than once in the regulation. Regulatory information should not be included in 
the definition. 
3.1.2 Definitions should be formatted as provided in this section. 
• Place definitions at the beginning of the regulation as one of the first 
numbered sections. 
• The first paragraph should read, “The following words and terms, when 
used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context 
clearly indicates otherwise:” 
• Arrange the words or specific terms in alphabetical order. 
• Do not number individual definitions. 
• Uppercase the first letter of the first word in each definition. All subsequent 
words in each definition should be lowercase, unless words are 
proper nouns. The word or term being defined should be placed within 
quotation marks and bold. 
• Immediately after the defined word or term, insert the word “means” 
Figure 3.1 

1.0 Definitions. 
1.1 The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, should 
have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: 
“Adoptive parent” means a provider who gives parental care and 
establishes permanent family relationships for children in the providers home for 
purposes of adoption. Standards apply to adoptive parents until the final order of 
adoption is issued. 

“Adult” means any individual 18 years of age or older. 
“Agency” means the local welfare or social services agency. 

3.2 Arrangement or organization. 
3.2.1 Concise drafting of a regulation, as well as the general design and logical 
arrangement of its sections, subsections and subdivisions, better communicates the meaning of 
the regulation. The major objective in arranging text within a regulation is to make the document 
as clear and understandable as possible. 
3.3 Sequence. 
3.3.1 The sequence of elements of a regulation as provided in this section should be 
observed: 
• Place general provisions before special provisions; 
• Place more important provisions before less important provisions; 
• Place frequently used provisions before less frequently used provisions; and 
• Place permanent provisions before temporary provisions. 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

3.3.2 Gender. 
3.3.2.1 Avoid using pronouns that indicate gender. Use the noun which 
the pronoun would replace. However, if pronoun gender must be indicated, use “his” instead of 
“his/her” and “he” instead of “he/she” or “(s)he.” The use of the masculine gender is addressed 
in 1 Del.C. §304 of the Delaware Code. 
4.0 Citations 
4.1 Citations to the Delaware Code. 
4.1.1 When citing chapters, articles or sections of the Delaware Code, refer to the 
following relevant examples: 
• Citing an entire chapter: 29 Del.C. Ch. 100 or 29 Delaware Code, Ch 100 
• Citing a specific section: 29 Delaware Code, Section 10101 or 29 Del.C. 
§10101 
• Citing multiple sections: 29 Delaware Code, Sections 3-5 or 29 Del.C. §§3-5 
• Citing a subsection: 29 Delaware Code, Section 3(a) or 29 Del.C. §3(a) 
4.2 Citations to the Delaware Register of Regulations. 
4.2.1 The Delaware Register of Regulations is cited by volume, issue, page 
number and date. For example, to refer to Volume 6, Page 1112 of the Delaware Register of 
Regulations issued on May 1, 2003 write: 
6 DE Reg. 1112 (5/1/03) 

4.2.2 The Delaware Administrative Code is cited by title and regulation number: For 
example, to refer to Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Air and Waste 
Management, Air Quality Management Section, Regulations for Requirements for 
Preconstrution Review use: 
7 DE Admin Code 1125 

4.3 Federal statutory and federal regulatory citations. 
4.3.1 When citing federal statutes, the official name, together with a reference to the 
United States Code, should be used as follows: 
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 USC §§2011-2284) 

4.3.2 The Federal Register should be cited by volume and page number. The 
approved short form of citation is “FR.” Thus, 12 FR 1234 refers to text at page 1234 of Volume 
12. 
4.3.3 The Code of Federal Regulations should be cited by title and section numbers. 
“CFR” is the approved short form. Thus, 7 CFR 1.1 refers to text at 1.1 of Title 7. 
5.0 Incorporation By Reference 
5.1 Incorporation by reference is a device by which a document is made part of the 
regulation simply by referring to it. While the text of an incorporated document does not appear 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

in their regulation, the provisions of the incorporated document are as fully enforceable as any 
other regulation. 

5.2 When incorporating by reference it is necessary to cite the specific publication 
including year and volume that is being incorporated into the regulation. The text incorporating a 
document should be included in the text of the regulation. 
5.3 A copy of the incorporated document shall be made available to the Registrar for 
public inspection purposes. 
5.4 Each regulation that proposes to incorporate a document is identified in the Delaware 
Register of Regulations by an Editor's Note. 
6.0 Composition And Style Guidelines For Document Drafting 
6.1 Application of guidelines. 
6.1.1 The composition and style guidelines in this manual are intended to provide 
editorial assistance in drafting documents to be published in the Delaware Register of 
Regulations. 
6.1.2 Specific questions may arise which are not covered within this article, due to 
the general nature of these guidelines. These guidelines are primarily based on the following 
reference books: 
A Manual of Style, University of Chicago Press (1982); and 
Drafting Legislation and Rules in Plain English, by Robert J. Martineau, West 
Publishing Company (1991). 
Each of these books provides extensive guidance in most areas of document 
drafting. 

6.1.3 Matters of spelling, usage, and word division should be referred to Webster's 
Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-Webster, Inc., or The American Heritage Dictionary of 
the English Language, New College Edition 
6.2 General guidelines. 
6.2.1 In general, keep the language of the text as clear and simple as possible. 
When drafting, remember that documents should be written so that the general public can 
understand them. Avoid using language that only individuals with specialized knowledge can 
understand. Consistency of expression, logical arrangement, and adherence to accepted usage 
aid readability. 
6.2.2 Strive for consistency of terminology, expression and arrangement. Avoid 
using the same word or term in more than one sense. Conversely, avoid using different words to 
denote the same idea. Apply the principles of consistency to phrases, sentences, paragraphs, 
arrangement and format. For example, in the text of a regulation, two or more subdivisions 
which are similar in substance should be parallel in form. 
6.2.3 Tabulation is used to arrange the structure of subdivisions in a document. All 
items in the tabulated enumeration must belong to the same class. Each item listed must be 
parallel to the introductory language. The following tabulation is incorrect because subdivision is 
not parallel in substance or form to the introductory language: 
EXAMPLE: 

1.1 An applicant for licensure shall: 
1.1.1 Complete the application for examination; 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

1.1.2 Submit in advance the examination fee; and 
1.1.3 Eligibility for licensure by reciprocity. 
(Language not parallel) 

Subdivision 1.1.3 should read, “Be eligible for licensure by reciprocity. 

6.2.4 Absolute conciseness does not ensure clarity but, in general, keeping a 
document simple and short avoids confusion and misunderstanding. In the case of regulatory 
drafting, divide a lengthy text into more than one regulation in order to avoid the complexities 
entailed in multiple sections and to make the text easier to read. Avoid long sentences where 
short ones will suffice. 
6.2.5 Ordinarily, use the present tense of verbs. However, the future tense is 
appropriate when using the imperative “shall.” Section 6.3 provides additional information on 
the use of “shall”. 
6.2.6 Generally, use the active rather than the passive voice: 
EXAMPLE: 

Use: The Chairman appoints members of the committee. 
Avoid: Members of the committee are appointed by the chairman. 

6.2.7 Generally, use the third person: 
EXAMPLE: 

Use: The applicant shall file the appropriate forms. 
Avoid: You shall file the appropriate form. 

6.2.8 If an idea can be accurately expressed either positively or negatively, express 
it positively. The negative form is appropriate where a provision expresses a prohibition. 
Negative words should not be used where provisions provide only advisory guidance. 
6.3 Use of “shall,” “may” and “must.” 
6.3.1 Use “shall” in the imperative sense to express a duty or obligation to act. The 
term “shall” is generally used in connection with statutory mandates. “May” is permissive and 
generally expresses a right, privilege or power. When an individual is authorized but not ordered 
to act, the term “may” is appropriate. If an obligation to act is intended, “shall” is used. 
6.3.2 Use “may not” when a right, privilege or power is restricted. Using “shall not” 
negates the obligation but not the permission to act; therefore, “may not” is the stronger 
prohibition. Wherever possible, the words “shall” or “may” are used in place of other terms such 
as “is authorized to,” “is empowered to,” “is directed to,” “has the duty to,” “must,” and similar 
phrases. However, if certain action is intended to be a condition before accruing a right or 
privilege, the word “must” is used instead of “shall” or “may” (e.g., “In order to have your 
regulations published you must file them by the deadline.”) 
6.4 Use of “any,” “each” and “every.” 
6.4.1 Do not use “any,” “each,” “every,” “all,” or “some,” if “a,” “an,” or “the” can be 
used with the same result. If the subject of the sentence is plural, it is seldom necessary to use 
these adjectives. For example, it should be stated, “Qualified employees shall...,” rather than, 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

“Any qualified employee shall....” If the subject of the sentence is singular, the indefinite pronoun 
is used only when the article “a” or “the” is inadequate, as when the use of “a” would allow the 
unintended interpretation that the obligation is to be discharged by applying it to a single 
member of the class instead of to all of them. If it is necessary to use an indefinite pronoun, 
follow these rules: 

6.4.1.1 If a right, privilege or power is conferred, use “any,” as in “Any 
qualified employee may...” 
6.4.1.2 If an obligation to act is imposed, use “each,” as in “Each 
employee shall...” 
6.5 Use of “such” and “said.” 
6.5.1 Avoid the use of “such” and “said.” Instead, use “the,” “that” or a pronoun. In 
many instances “such” and “said” mean nothing at all and can be omitted without any other 
words being substituted. 
6.6 Use of “and/or.” 
6.6.1 The term “and/or” should never be used. In general the term “and” means to 
add something to what has already been said. “Or” means in the alternative. The word “and” is 
a conjunctive and the word “or” is a disjunctive. In most cases the word “or” is proper to convey 
the thought of “one, or the other, or any of them.” If emphasis is needed, the use of terms such 
as “any of the following,” “all of the following,” “either of the following,” “or both,” and similar 
modes of expression are sufficient. 
6.7 Use of words both singular and plural. 
6.7.1 Avoid modifying singular words to be both singular and plural (e.g., parent(s)). 
Instead, indicate one or the other, or both (e.g., parent or parents). 
6.8 Commas. 
6.8.1 Use commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause. A nonrestrictive clause gives 
added information about the word it modifies, but is not needed to complete the meaning of a 
sentence. 
EXAMPLE: New rules concerning the licensing of teachers, which I have not 
read, have been adopted. 

“Which I have not read” does not significantly affect the primary meaning, which is 
that rules concerning the licensing of teachers have been adopted, therefore, 
commas are used around this nonrestrictive clause. 

6.8.2 Do not use commas to set off a restrictive clause. A restrictive clause cannot 
be omitted without altering the meaning of the main clause, therefore, it should not be set off by 
commas. 
EXAMPLE: The requirements which an applicant must meet for certification are 
listed in the regulation. 

Without the clause “which an applicant must meet for certification,” the meaning of 
the sentence would be significantly altered. 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

6.8.3 Use a comma in a compound sentence to separate independent clauses 
joined by one of the coordinate conjunctions “and,” “but,” “for,” “or,” “nor.” 
EXAMPLE: The board is responsible for collecting the revenue from all permits 
and fees, but the legislature sets the rates. 

6.8.4 The use of a comma without a coordinate conjunction between two 
independent clauses is known as a comma fault and should be avoided. 
EXAMPLE: The board collects the fees and issues permits, the legislature sets 
the rates. 

The sentence may be corrected by: 

Using a coordinate conjunction after the comma. 

The board collects the fees and issues permits, but the legislature sets the rates. 

Using a semicolon between the two independent clauses. 

The board collects the fees and issues permits; the legislature sets the rates.
Dividing the two independent clauses into two simple sentences.
The board collects the fees and issues permits. The legislature sets the rates.


6.8.5 Use commas to separate a series of three or more words, phrases or clauses. 
EXAMPLE: The board is responsible for collecting the revenue from all fees, 
permits, license certifications, and renewals. 

6.8.6 If the elements within the sentence contain internal commas or other 
punctuation, separate the elements with semicolons. 
EXAMPLE: The board is responsible for collecting the revenue from fees for 
examinations; permits for shops, salons and schools; and license certifications. 

6.9 Hyphens and compound words. 
6.9.1 Many compounds are formed with the hyphen as a connector, but as these 
words become established the hyphen is often dropped in favor of the solid form. 
6.9.2 Words that function as a compound adjective that are placed before the word 
they modify should be hyphenated. 
EXAMPLES: 

1. One weekend each month, Mr. and Mrs. Jones go on a 10-mile hike. 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

2. Our opponent resorted to low-level tactics. 
However when these same word groups are placed after the nouns or pronouns they modify, 
they are not hyphenated. 

EXAMPLES: 

1. Mr. and Mrs. Jones hike 10 miles one weekend each month. 
2. Our opponent's tactics were low level. 
The hyphen is also used to avoid confusion in words like “re-form” (meaning to 

form again). 

6.9.3 Hyphens should not be used in constructions like the following if the meaning 
is clear without them (e.g., “sales tax bill,” “foreign aid plan”). The hyphen is not needed in these 
forms “navy blue skirt” or “dark green paint.” 
6.9.4 Compound words are listed separately within the dictionary. To avoid 
confusion, and sometimes absurdities, compound nouns that are usually solid words should be 
separated when the first part of the compound is modified by an adjective: “businessman, small-
business man”; “sailmaker,” “racing-sail maker.” 
6.9.5 Do not use the hyphen to connect an adverb ending in “ly” with a participle in 
such phrases as “newly married couple,” or “elegantly furnished house.” Adjectives ending in 
“ly” are another matter; hyphens should, for example, be used in “a gravely-voiced, grizzly-
maned statesman of the old school.” 
6.9.6 Hyphens are not used in titles such as “commander in chief,” “director 
general,” “editor in chief,” or “secretary general.” Do use the hyphen in titles like “secretarytreasurer” 
or “law-enforcement officer.” 
6.9.7 In a series of hyphenated phrases, use the complete phrase in each instance. 
EXAMPLES: 

AVOID: On successive days there were three-, five- and nine-inch snowfalls. 
USE: On successive days there were three-inch, five-inch, and nine-inch 
snowfalls. 

6.10 Quotation marks. 
6.10.1 Typographical usage dictates that the comma and the period always be placed 
inside the closing quotation mark, even though they sometimes logically do not seem to belong 
there. 
EXAMPLE: One package was marked “fragile,” and the other package was 

marked “do not open until Christmas.” 

6.10.2 Semicolons and colons belong outside the closing quotation mark 
unless they are a part of the quoted material. 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

EXAMPLE: One package was marked “fragile”; the other package was marked 
“do not open until Christmas.” 

6.11 Capitalization. 
6.11.1 Capitalize civil, military, religious and professional titles when they immediately 
precede a personal name, as part of the name. 
EXAMPLES: 

1. Governor Minner; 
2. Secretary Powell; and 
3. Chairman Jones 
6.11.2 Capitalize full names of legislative, deliberative, administrative and judicial 
bodies, departments, bureaus, and offices. Lowercase common noun substitutes or incomplete 
designations, except abbreviations. 
EXAMPLES: 

Uppercase Lowercase 
General Assembly of Delaware state legislature 
Department of Transportation the department 

6.11.3 Do not capitalize the following words unless they are part of a proper 
name: 
EXAMPLES: 

administration;
board;
commission;
executive branch, legislative branch, or judicial branch;
federal;
government; or 
state.


6.11.4 Capitalize common nouns and adjectives that form an essential part of 
a place. 
EXAMPLES: 

Sussex County 
City of Dover 
Northern Delaware 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

6.11.5 Capitalize “State of Delaware” and “State.” 
6.11.6 Capitalize names of buildings and monuments. 
EXAMPLES: 

Washington Monument 
Legislative Hall 
Townsend Building 

6.11.7 Capitalize only the official names of documents. 
EXAMPLES:
Uppercase Lowercase


Constitution of Delaware state constitution 

6.11.8 Capitalize the names of an specific act (e.g., Administrative Procedures 
Act). 
6.11.9 Capitalize the word “Act” when it has previously been referred to or 

defined, and subsequent references are to the specific act. 

6.11.10 Capitalize a word describing a part of a document only if it is followed by 
a specific number or letter designation. 
EXAMPLES: 

Uppercase Lowercase 

Chapter 4 this chapter 
Part IV this part 

6.11.11 Lowercase “page” and “line” (e.g., page 10, line 22). 
6.12 Writing numbers. 
6.12.1 Arabic numerals are used for numbers greater than nine (e.g., 10, 11, 
12...), except for proper names such as “Chapter 1,” not “Chapter One.” Numbers from one to 
nine are spelled out. Zero is written “0.” 
6.13 Percentages. 
6.13.1 Numerals are used followed by a percentage symbol (%) for all 
percentages. All percentages consist of at least two digits. 
6.13.2 Percentages greater than or equal to 10 are written in the following 
manner: 
10%; 
12%; 
3.4%; or 
15.63%. 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

6.13.3 Percentages less than 10 are written in the following manner: 
9.6%; 
8.64%; or 
8.0%. 
6.13.4 Percentages less than one are written in the following manner: 
0.5%; 
0.002%; or 
0.621%. 
6.14 Monetary figures. 
6.14.1 Numerals are preceded by a dollar symbol ($) for most monetary 
listings. 
6.14.2 Amounts less than $1.00 are written with a dollar symbol followed by a 
space, a decimal, and the cent value, to conform with the following: 
$.04; 
$.50; or 
$.99. 

6.14.3 Amounts greater than $.99 but less than $10 are written with a dollar 
symbol followed by the dollar value followed by a decimal point followed by the cent value, even 
if the cent value is “.00,” to conform with the following: 
$2.00;
$3.40; or
$9.99.


6.14.4 Amounts greater than $9.99 are written with a dollar symbol followed by 
the dollar value followed by a decimal point followed by the cent value, unless the cent value is 
“.00,” in which case no decimal point or cent value will be included, to conform with the 
following: 
$10;
$10.06; or
$100.


6.14.5 Monetary listings incorporating seven or more digits are written to 
conform to the following: 
EXAMPLES: 

USE: $1 million AVOID: $1,000,000 

6.15 Dates. 
6.15.1 In the text of documents, spell out the month of the year. Do not use the 
number of the month to signify the month. Do not abbreviate the name of the month. 
EXAMPLES: 

USE: December 2, 1994 AVOID: 12/2/94 
Dec. 1, 1994



DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

6.16 Temperature. 
6.16.1 Forms of temperatures (i.e., Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin) are written 
using numerals only. The temperature value is followed by a degree symbol (°) followed by a 
“F”, “C” or “K” as the case may be. 
EXAMPLES: 

75° F, 30° C, -4° F, 0° K 

6.17 Fractions. 
6.17.1 Fractions are written in numeric form (e.g., ½, ¾, ¼). Mixed numerals 
(whole numbers and fractions) are also written in their numeric form (e.g., 1½, 2¾, 13¼). 
6.18 Units of measure. 
6.18.1 Generally, abbreviations are not used in the Delaware Register of 
Regulations; however, there are a few exceptions when referring to units of measure. The 
following table serves as a guide to writing units of measure: 
USE AVOID USE AVOID 
inches 
feet 
square feet 
pounds 
barrel 
by 
Btu 
in. 
ft. 
sq. ft. 
lbs. 
bbl. 
X 
British thermal unit 
°F 
°C 
°K 
centimeter 
millimeter 
WattsNo. 
Fahrenheit 
Celsius 
Kelvin 
cm 
mm 
W. 
# 
6.19 Time. 

6.19.1 Time should be written in Arabic numerals, with the exception of 12 
p.m. which is written as “noon.” 
EXAMPLES: 

USE: 10 a.m. AVOID: 10:00 a.m. 

10:30 a.m. 
noon 12 p.m. 
6.20 Quotations. 
6.20.1 Quotations should be used as follows: 
6.20.1.1 Words within text which require emphasis are set off in quotation 
marks. 
6.20.1.2 Brief quotes are enclosed in quotation marks; lengthy quotes are 
set off in the text but are not enclosed in quotation marks. 
6.20.1.3 Quotation marks are used to enclose certain material following 
the terms “marked,” “designated,” “classified,” “named,” “endorsed” or “signed.” 

DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

EXAMPLES: 

1. Such sheep shall be accompanied by a waybill or owner-shipper certificate 
marked “for immediate slaughter.” 
2. The term “meat” and the names of particular kinds of meat, such as beef, 
veal, mutton. 
6.20.1.4 Quotation marks are used to enclose titles of articles, editorials, 
essays, papers, reports, subjects and themes. 
EXAMPLE: The procedures are described in “Methods of Analytical Chemists.” 
In evaluating replicate data, table 19, page 935, “Journal of the Association of 
Official Analytical Chemists” (Volume 49, Number 5, October 1960), shall be 
followed. 

6.21 Commonly used words with their plain language translations. The use of the words in 
the right column is preferred. 
AVOID USE 

and/or “A” or “B,” or both 
appear seem 
ascertain find out 
at this point in time now 
commence begin 
complete fill out 
comply follow 
constitute be 
disclose show 
elect choose 
endeavor try 
ensue follow 
execute sign 
experience have, feel 
facilitate make easy 
presently now, soon 
prior to before, earlier 
prohibit forbid 
purchaser buyer 
pursuant to in response to 
subsequent to after, later 
such, same, said the, this, that, them, those, it 
terminate end 
or the duration of during 
forthwith immediately 


DELAWARE MANUAL FOR DRAFTING REGULATIONS 

forward send 
hereby by this 
herein to this 
hereinabove* 
hereafter* 
hereinbelow* 
hereof of this 
hereto to this 
thereat, there, at that level 
thereby by that 
therein in that 
thereof of that 
thereto to that 
therewith with that 
thus so, that way 
transpire happen 
upon on 
vehicle car, truck, way 
vendor seller 
whereas avoid using this term 
wherein where, in which 

* The use of the words “hereinabove,” “hereinafter,” and “hereinbelow” should not be used 
when referring to the position of a section or other provision. If a reference is necessary, specify 
the part, article, section, subsection or subdivision of the regulation by number.