Cite as: 540 U. S. 526 (2004)
Opinion of the Court
theless, for their plain meaning. See Brief for Respondent 17, n. 4. Here, the missing conjunction neither alters the text's substance nor obscures its meaning. This is not a case where a "not" is missing or where an "or" inadvertently substitutes for an "and." The sentence may be awkward; yet it is straightforward.
Subsection (A)'s nonparalleled fourth category of persons who can render compensable services does not cloud the statute's meaning. Petitioner reasons that since the section is a single sentence, and since it appears to strive for parallelism between those authorized to receive fees and those whose services are compensable, there is an ambiguity as to what "attorney" in § 330(a)(1)(A) refers to in § 330(a)(1). He also points to neighboring § 331, which provides for both debtors' attorneys and § 327 professional persons to receive interim compensation after an order for relief is entered but before an application for § 330 fees is filed. He argues that since § 331 contemplates debtors' attorneys' receiving interim compensation there is reason to conclude that "attorney" in § 330(a)(1)(A) refers to debtors' attorneys in § 330(a)(1), though they go unmentioned in that clause.
Subsection (A)'s "attorney," however, can be read in a straightforward fashion to refer to those attorneys whose fees are authorized by § 330(a)(1): attorneys qualified as § 327 professional persons, that is, in a Chapter 7 context, those employed by the trustee and approved by the court. See § 327(a) (appointed trustee may "employ one or more attorneys . . . to represent or assist the trustee in carrying out the trustee's duties under this title); § 327(e) (appointed trustee may "employ, for a specified special purpose, other than to represent the trustee in conducting the case, an attorney that has represented the debtor, . . ."). Likewise, § 331's reference to interim compensation for debtors' attorneys most straightforwardly refers to debtors' attorneys authorized under § 327.
535
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