MPEP 714: Amendments

Answer in brief

MPEP 714 covers how applicants amend an application: the manner of making amendments under 37 CFR 1.121, what makes a reply fully responsive, and amendments after final rejection (37 CFR 1.116) or after allowance (37 CFR 1.312).

What MPEP 714 covers

Most prosecution happens through amendments, so the formal rules matter.

Claim listings must show every claim with a status identifier, such as (Original), (Currently amended), (Canceled) or (New).
A reply must be fully responsive to every ground in the action (714.02).
After final rejection, amendments are entered only in limited cases.
After allowance, 37 CFR 1.312 amendments are not a matter of right.

How examiners use it

A non-compliant amendment draws a notice that gives the applicant time to correct it.

On the patent bar

Know the status identifiers and the limits on amendments after final and after allowance.

Read the full text

Official title: Amendments, Applicant’s Action [R-07.2022].

Read MPEP 714 in full on Wysebridge ↗

Or at the source: USPTO MPEP § 714.

Questions & answers

What is a 312 amendment?

An amendment filed after a notice of allowance under 37 CFR 1.312. It is not entered as of right and is generally limited to corrections that do not require further search or examination.

Sources for this entry

USPTO — MPEP § 714 USPTO
Official text of this section, Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024.
Wysebridge MPEP Center Wysebridge (publisher of this site)
The full MPEP (9th Ed., Rev. 01.2024) free to read, with Wysebridge's estimated patent bar weight for each chapter.

Practical guidance is original editorial content. Company-published figures are the company's own claims and are labeled as such.

Continue this reading path

MPEP 713: Examiner Interviews MPEP 706: Rejection of Claims MPEP 2163: Written Description Requirement

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Cite or share this entry

MPEP.net. “MPEP 714: Amendments.” Wysebridge Reference. Content reviewed 9 November 2026.
https://mpep.net/mpep-714/