Common use of Word Usage Clause in Contracts

Word Usage. This Security Instrument is governed by federal law and the law of New York State. All rights and obligations contained in this Security Instrument are subject to any requirements and limitations of Applicable Law. Applicable Law might allow the parties to agree by contract or it might be silent, but such silence does not mean that Lender and I cannot agree by contract. If any term of this Security Instrument or of the Note conflicts with Applicable Law, the conflict will not affect other provisions of this Security Instrument or the Note which can operate, or be given effect, without the conflicting provision. This means that the Security Instrument or the Note will remain as if the conflicting provision did not exist. As used in this Security Instrument: (a) words of the masculine gender mean and include corresponding words of the feminine and neuter genders; (b) words in the singular mean and include the plural, and words in the plural mean and include the singular; and (c) the word “may” gives sole discretion without any obligation to take any action.