How to Fix Syntax Errors in Amazon Redshift

How do I fix a "syntax error at or near" in Amazon Redshift?

A Redshift syntax error occurs when the SQL parser cannot interpret your statement because of typos, misplaced keywords, or invalid identifiers.

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Description

What triggers a syntax error in Redshift?

Typos in keywords, missing commas, unmatched quotes or parentheses, reserved-word column names, and PostgreSQL-incompatible functions often raise ERROR: syntax error at or near .... Redshift’s parser stops at the first unexpected token.

How do I quickly locate the error token?

Read the error message: it shows the first unexpected word or symbol. Start scanning one character before that token—most issues sit immediately upstream (e.g., missing comma before a column).

Which reserved words catch developers off-guard?

Common culprits are order, date, user, and percent. Enclose them in double quotes or rename the column: "order" or order_date.

Can parameter placeholders cause syntax errors?

Yes. In client libraries use $1, :param, or ? as required. Mixing styles confuses the parser inside dynamic SQL.

How to validate query structure before running?

Paste the query into Galaxy's SQL editor. Instant linting underlines invalid tokens and suggests auto-fixes, preventing runtime syntax errors.

Best practices to avoid syntax errors

• Always terminate statements with semicolons in multi-query files.
• Break long queries into CTEs for clarity.
• Alias every subquery.
• Enable SQL formatting to standardize comma placement.
• Use CI tests that run EXPLAIN on critical queries.

How to fix a real-world example?

Incorrect:

SELECT id name email FROM Customers;

Error: ERROR: syntax error at or near "name" (missing comma).

Correct:

SELECT id, name, email FROM Customers;

Does copy/paste from Postgres docs cause issues?

Sometimes. Redshift lacks some PostgreSQL features (e.g., GENERATED columns, DROP OWNED). Remove unsupported clauses or use alternatives.

Why How to Fix Syntax Errors in Amazon Redshift is important

How to Fix Syntax Errors in Amazon Redshift Example Usage


-- Missing comma causes syntax error
SELECT id name email FROM Customers;
-- Fixed version
SELECT id, name, email FROM Customers;

How to Fix Syntax Errors in Amazon Redshift Syntax


-- Correct SELECT statement
SELECT column1 [, column2 …]
FROM table_name
[WHERE condition]
[GROUP BY column1]
[HAVING condition]
[ORDER BY column1 [ASC|DESC]]
[LIMIT n];

-- Example with ecommerce tables
SELECT c.id, c.name, COUNT(o.id) AS order_count, SUM(o.total_amount) AS lifetime_value
FROM Customers AS c
JOIN Orders AS o ON o.customer_id = c.id
WHERE c.created_at >= '2023-01-01'
GROUP BY c.id, c.name
ORDER BY lifetime_value DESC
LIMIT 10;

Common Mistakes

Omitting commas between selected columns. Redshift reads the next column name as part of the previous token, raising an error. Always separate columns with commas.
Using reserved words as identifiers without quoting them. Rename the column or wrap it in double quotes, e.g., "order".