intrinsic aids

• internal aids - within particular act the judge is looking at for the case
• long title/short title - referred to for guidance eg rcn judges referred to long title of abortion act
• preamble - older acts have statement at start of act setting out its purpose, newer acts may have one/brief one eg theft act 1968 'to modernise law on theft'
• marginal notes - explain different sections
• interpretation section - newer acts include interpretation sections that explain key words useful for technical/medical acts eg s10 theft act 1968 refers to a weapon of offence, defines in interpretation section
• schedules - end of act may clarify particular points
• punctuation - has an effect on meaning of words (hanlon v law society) lord lowry said judges should look at importance of punctuality when interpreting act of parliament