In Mformation Technologies, Inc, v. Research in Motion Limited, [2012-1679, 2013-1123] (Fed. Cir. 2014), the Federal Circuit commented on the role of grammar in claim cosntruction, citing Credle v. Bond, 25 F.3d 1566, 1571 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (stating that “grammatical structure and syntax” of the claim can be important evidence for claim construction). In Credle the Federal Circuit was left with construing this count:

The method of producing collapsed bags having spouts with evacuation form unit inserts connected therein which comprises, for each bag, providing an insert with an elongated form upon which the bag can collapse as it is evacuated which has at least one continuous longitudinal open passage along its length and has an inner open end, joining two opposed webs of material to produce opposed walls of the bag, and before joining the webs applying a spout to one of the webs extending outwardly therefrom and with its inner end open and flexibly securing the form, with its inner end in liquid communication with the spout and extending transversely therefrom to lie flat between said opposed webs so that as each completed bag is filled with liquid the form will swing into the liquid and the bag will collapse around it as it is evacuated. (Emphasis added).

The Federal Circuit said “it is clear from the structure of the clause that the phrases ‘extending outwardly therefrom,’ ‘with its inner end open,’ and ‘flexibly securing the form’ all modify and describe the spout.  This is both logically and grammatically required by the presence of the emphasized “and.”.”  Thus the Federal Circuit rejected the constrution that “flexibly securing the form” was a separate step, and not a modifier of the word spout.

In Mformation the isssue was whether one step (establishing a connection) had to be completed before another step (transmitting).  The Federal Circuit found that wording chosen by the patentee indicated that the connection had to be established, not merely initiated.

Despite the irony that grammar and syntax are critical in a field dominated by drafters who are engineers and scientists, gopd grammar and good claims are not alternatives.  Claim drafters have to chose their words carefully, and the form of the word and the punctuation chosen can significantly change how the claim is construed.