Cite as: 540 U. S. 20 (2003)
Opinion of the Court
§ 423(d)(2)(A)—a provision of the Fur Products Labeling Act, 15 U. S. C. § 69, which defined " 'invoice' " as " 'a written account, memorandum, list, or catalog . . . transported or delivered to a purchaser, consignee, factor, bailee, correspondent, or agent, or any other person who is engaged in dealing commercially in fur products or furs.' " 359 U. S., at 386 (quoting 15 U. S. C. § 69(f)) (emphasis added). Like the Third Circuit here, the Court of Appeals in Mandel Brothers had interpreted the phrase " 'any other' " as rendering the relative clause (" 'who is engaged in dealing commercially' ") applicable to all the specifically listed categories. 359 U. S., at 389. This Court unanimously reversed, concluding that the "limiting clause is to be applied only to the last antecedent." Id., at 389, and n. 4 (citing 2 J. Sutherland, Statutory Construction § 4921 (3d ed. 1943)).
An example will illustrate the error of the Third Circuit's perception that the specifically enumerated "previous work" "must" be treated the same as the more general reference to "any other kind of substantial gainful work." 294 F. 3d, at 572. Consider, for example, the case of parents who, before leaving their teenage son alone in the house for the weekend, warn him, "You will be punished if you throw a party or engage in any other activity that damages the house." If the son nevertheless throws a party and is caught, he should hardly be able to avoid punishment by arguing that the house was not damaged. The parents proscribed (1) a party, and (2) any other activity that damages the house. As far as appears from what they said, their reasons for prohibiting the home-alone party may have had nothing to do with damage to the house—for instance, the risk that underage drinking or sexual activity would occur. And even if their only concern was to prevent damage, it does not follow from the fact that the same interest underlay both the specific and the general prohibition that proof of impairment of that interest is required for both. The parents, foreseeing that assessment of whether an activity had in fact "damaged" the house
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