What causes "ERROR: syntax error at or near "FROM""?

Missing comma between column names in SELECT Unclosed string literal (missing closing quote) Using a reserved keyword as a column/table name without quoting Wrong JOIN syntax Missing FROM clause

SQL Error3 Fixes Available

SQL syntax error near unexpected token

ERROR: syntax error at or near "FROM"

What does this error mean?

SQL syntax errors occur when the query doesn't follow the expected grammar of the SQL dialect you're using. The error message points to where the parser got confused, which is often just after the actual mistake.

Common Causes

Missing comma between column names in SELECT
Unclosed string literal (missing closing quote)
Using a reserved keyword as a column/table name without quoting
Wrong JOIN syntax
Missing FROM clause

How to Fix It (3 Solutions)

Format your SQL to spot the issue

Use our SQL Formatter to properly indent and format your query — misaligned clauses become obvious.

Quote reserved keywords

If your column or table name is a SQL reserved word, wrap it in double quotes (PostgreSQL) or backticks (MySQL).

Code

-- PostgreSQL
SELECT "order", "user" FROM "table";

-- MySQL
SELECT `order`, `user` FROM `table`;

Check for missing commas

The most common SQL syntax error is a missing comma between column names.

Code

-- ❌ Missing comma
SELECT id name email FROM users;

-- ✅ Correct
SELECT id, name, email FROM users;

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