Paper, Spacing etc.

Patent applications in the U.S. can properly be submitted on the common 8 ½" x 11 inch paper, on the European style A4 paper, or on legal paper. My recommendation is to stick with the first two. Legal paper is difficult to fit in some files, in briefcases, and is just all around a big headache.

Since PCT and most foreign applications must be filed on A4 paper, many firms are starting to use A4 paper for all their applications. The idea is to avoid the need for reformatting the pages when filing PCT and abroad. That is a viable choice, although one that I haven't generally adopted. for one thing clients don't usually want A4 paper, so I am always having to either cut off part of the document, or shrink it down to 91% size to accommodate an 8 ½" x 11 inch image.

Patent applications must have either double or 1½ line spacing . My preference is for 1½ line spacing because I find it provides a better perspective. Double spacing allows so little text on a page that it tends to adversely affect comprehension.

Line numbering is optional, but extremely useful. It is also extremely easy to use. On Microsoft™ Word™ one simply clicks on File/ Page Setup/Layout/Line Numbers, and then selects Add Line Numbering, and change Count By to the numeral 5. Note that the Specification and Abstract pages should have line numbering, but the Claim and Drawing sheets should not. Actually, Claim sheets can have line numbering, but in that case the line numbering starts anew at the beginning of each claim.

It has become very popular recently to use paragraph numbering, especially on provisional applications because those are published without line numbering. Paragraph numbering is usually set in bold, in square brackets, with left zero padding (e.g. [027] ), and can be automatically generated by a word processor.

Full justification of text is entirely optional. I almost always use left justification rather than full justification because I find it easier to read.