near "X": syntax error

This error occurs when your SQL statement has invalid syntax. Learn how to identify and fix common SQL syntax mistakes.

The syntax error message means SQLite couldn't parse your SQL statement. The word in quotes tells you where parsing failed.

Understanding the Error

Error: near "FORM": syntax error

SQLite stopped at "FORM" because it expected something else (probably "FROM"). The error points to where things went wrong.

Common Causes and Fixes

1. Typos in Keywords

SQL

-- Wrong
SELEC * FROM users;
SELECT * FORM users;
SELET * FROM users;

-- Correct
SELECT * FROM users;

2. Missing Keywords

SQL

-- Wrong: missing FROM
SELECT * users;

-- Wrong: missing INTO
INSERT users VALUES (1, 'Alice');

-- Correct
SELECT * FROM users;
INSERT INTO users VALUES (1, 'Alice');

3. Extra or Missing Commas

SQL

-- Wrong: trailing comma
SELECT name, email, FROM users;

-- Wrong: missing comma
SELECT name email FROM users;

-- Correct
SELECT name, email FROM users;

4. Mismatched Quotes

SQL

-- Wrong: mismatched quotes
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = 'Alice";
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = "Alice';

-- Correct
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = 'Alice';
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = "Alice";

5. Missing Parentheses

SQL

-- Wrong
INSERT INTO users VALUES 1, 'Alice';
CREATE TABLE users id INTEGER, name TEXT;

-- Correct
INSERT INTO users VALUES (1, 'Alice');
CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER, name TEXT);

6. Reserved Words as Identifiers

SQLite has reserved words that can't be used as names without quoting:

SQL

-- Wrong: 'order' is reserved
CREATE TABLE order (id INTEGER);
SELECT * FROM group;

-- Correct: quote with double quotes or brackets
CREATE TABLE "order" (id INTEGER);
SELECT * FROM [group];
CREATE TABLE `order` (id INTEGER);  -- backticks also work

Common reserved words: ORDER, GROUP, SELECT, TABLE, INDEX, KEY, DEFAULT, CHECK, PRIMARY, FOREIGN, REFERENCES

7. Wrong String Quotes

SQLite uses single quotes for strings, double quotes for identifiers:

SQL

-- Wrong: double quotes for string values
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = "Alice";  -- Works but not standard

-- Correct
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = 'Alice';

8. Missing Semicolons in Multi-Statement

SQL

-- Wrong: missing semicolon
CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER)
CREATE TABLE posts (id INTEGER)

-- Correct
CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER);
CREATE TABLE posts (id INTEGER);

9. Invalid Column Definitions

SQL

-- Wrong: invalid syntax
CREATE TABLE users (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT NOT NULL,  -- AUTOINCREMENT requires INTEGER PRIMARY KEY
  name TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT,  -- DEFAULT needs a value
);

-- Correct
CREATE TABLE users (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  name TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'Unknown'
);

10. Subquery Issues

SQL

-- Wrong: missing parentheses around subquery
SELECT * FROM SELECT * FROM users;

-- Correct
SELECT * FROM (SELECT * FROM users);

Debugging Syntax Errors

1. Read the Error Carefully

The word after "near" tells you exactly where SQLite got confused:

near "WHERE": syntax error
-- Look at what comes BEFORE "WHERE" - something's wrong there

2. Simplify the Query

Break complex queries into smaller parts:

SQL

-- If this fails
SELECT u.name, COUNT(p.id)
FROM users u
LEFT JOIN posts p ON u.id = p.user_id
WHERE u.active = 1
GROUP BY u.id
HAVING COUNT(p.id) > 5;

-- Test each part
SELECT * FROM users;  -- Works?
SELECT * FROM posts;  -- Works?
SELECT * FROM users u LEFT JOIN posts p ON u.id = p.user_id;  -- Works?
-- Add clauses one at a time

3. Check Online Validators

Use SQLite syntax checkers or format your SQL to spot issues.

4. Compare with Documentation

Check the exact syntax in SQLite documentation for the statement you're using.

Common Syntax Patterns

INSERT

SQL

INSERT INTO table (col1, col2) VALUES (val1, val2);
INSERT INTO table VALUES (val1, val2);  -- All columns
INSERT INTO table (col1) VALUES (val1), (val2);  -- Multiple rows

UPDATE

SQL

UPDATE table SET col1 = val1, col2 = val2 WHERE condition;

DELETE

SQL

DELETE FROM table WHERE condition;

CREATE TABLE

SQL

CREATE TABLE name (
  col1 TYPE CONSTRAINTS,
  col2 TYPE CONSTRAINTS
);

SELECT with JOIN

SQL

SELECT columns
FROM table1
JOIN table2 ON table1.col = table2.col
WHERE condition
GROUP BY column
HAVING condition
ORDER BY column
LIMIT n;

Best Practices

Use a SQL formatter to catch obvious issues
Build queries incrementally and test each step
Quote identifiers that might be reserved words
Use consistent quote style (single for strings)
Check parentheses match in complex expressions

Related Errors

no such table - Table name is wrong
no such column - Column name is wrong
ambiguous column name - Need to specify which table