What is the preferred order of arrangement for a patent specification?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

The MPEP provides guidelines for the preferred order of arrangement in framing a patent specification. While not mandatory, following this order can help organize the application effectively:

1. Title of the invention
2. Cross-reference to related applications
3. Statement regarding federally sponsored research or development
4. Background of the invention
5. Brief summary of the invention
6. Brief description of the several views of the drawing
7. Detailed description of the invention
8. Claims
9. Abstract of the disclosure

The MPEP states: “The following order of arrangement is preferable in framing the specification. See also MPEP § 608.01(a). Each of the lettered items should appear in upper case, without underlining or bold type, as section headings.”

For more detailed information on the specification arrangement, refer to MPEP § 608.01(a).