How should a patent abstract be formatted?

The formatting requirements for a patent abstract are:

• It should be in narrative form
• Generally limited to a single paragraph
• Preferably 50 to 150 words in length
• Should not exceed 15 lines of text
• Avoid legal phraseology often used in patent claims (e.g., ‘means’ and ‘said’)
• Use clear and concise language
• Avoid phrases like ‘This disclosure concerns,’ ‘The disclosure defined by this invention,’ or ‘This disclosure describes’

The MPEP states: The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph preferably within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should not exceed 15 lines of text.

To learn more:

• patent abstract format
• technical writing
• patent application
• USPTO guidelines