A method and system for analyzing a patent disclosure is disclosed. The method and system comprise a disclosure analysis and a separate claims analysis, such that each analysis may be performed independently. Missing and incorrect reference labels are identified within the disclosure. Antecedent basis and specification support are checked for the claim elements. Terms within the specification that do not have a reference number, but may require one, are identified, provided that they fit the profile of one of a set of particular lexical patterns.