The modification of the absorption, emission, and Raman scattering intensities of molecules near metal surfaces is discussed with emphasis on the last. These modifications are usually referred to as surface selection rules. We show that in Raman scattering, the ‘‘rule,’’ which states that only those modes will be active which belong to the irreducible representation to which α′zz also belongs, is only approximately obeyed. The circumstances under which modes which are represented by nondiagonal derived polarizibility tensors are ‘‘surface-active’’ are considered, as well as the geometrical strategies which should be followed in studying the Raman spectra of molecules adsorbed on flat, metal surfaces.