In determining the intention of the parties from the wording of the contract, the whole contract must be construed together. Obscurities in certain passages or apparent inconsistencies between different provisions can very often be remedied by a consideration of the contract as a whole.

"What, then, is the true construction of the contract? The answer to this question is not to be found in any name which the parties may have given to the instrument, and not alone in any particular provision, it contains, disconnected from all the others, but in the ruling intention of the parties, gathered from all the language they have used. It is the legal effect of the whole which is to be sought for." 5

The covenants of a deed will be construed together, and general covenants are often modified by others of a more particular character.6 When particular words are preceded or followed by a general term, the general term will be limited in its scope to persons or things of the same general character as those covered by the particular terms.7

A contract is to be so construed as to give effect if possible, to every word and clause.8 Thus a construction which requires that an entire clause of a deed should be rejected will not be adopted, except from unavoidable necessity.9 Where at the bottom of a promissory note, in terms payable on demand, was written, the memorandum "one-half payable in twelve months, the balance in twenty-four months," it was held that since every clause should be given an effect if possible, the memorandum should be taken as intended to limit and control the generality of the words, "on demand," and that the agreement was to pay one-half on demand after twelve months and the other half on demand after twenty-four months.10

5 Herryford vs. Davis, 102 U. S., 235.

6 Davis vs. Lyman, 6 Conn., 252;

Clark vs. Devoe, 124 N. Y., 120; 21 Am. St. Ap., 652. 7 Bock vs. Perkins, 139 U. S., 628; Moore vs. Griffin, 22 Me., 350.

8 Bush vs. Watkins, 14 Beav., 425; Mason vs. Alabama Iron Co., 73 Ala., 270; Baron vs. Placide, 7 La. Am., 229; Corbin vs. Healy, 20 Peck, 514.

9 City of Alton vs. Illinois Transportation Co., 12 I11., 38.

If a contract is incorporated in, or evidenced by, several writings, all are to be considered as if they were part of one instrument, and are to be construed together.11 Thus, where two agreements and a deed, of same date, were part of the same transaction, it was held that they should be construed together.12