SQL resembles English-like statements built from keywords such as SELECT, FROM, and WHERE that instruct a relational database which data to read, write, or transform.
SQL appears as concise, English-style commands built from capitalized keywords, lowercase identifiers, and punctuation that together tell a database exactly what to do.
SQL statements resemble short sentences. You normally see uppercase verbs (SELECT, INSERT) followed by column names, table names, and filters. Line breaks and indentation group each clause so the logic reads top-down.
A typical read query follows the fixed order: SELECT 👉 FROM 👉 WHERE 👉 GROUP BY 👉 HAVING 👉 ORDER BY 👉 LIMIT. Sticking to this template keeps queries valid across PostgreSQL, MySQL, Snowflake, and BigQuery.
The core visual anchors are SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, FROM, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, and ORDER BY. They’re usually written in uppercase to pop out and separate logic from data identifiers.
Single-line comments start with --. Multi-line comments sit between /* and */. Commenting queries documents intent and helps AI copilots like Galaxy’s provide more accurate code suggestions.
The query below returns active customer revenue by month, ordered by the most recent period. The structure and casing illustrate standard SQL style.SELECT DATE_TRUNC('month', order_date) AS month,
SUM(amount) AS revenue
FROM orders
WHERE status = 'active'
GROUP BY 1
ORDER BY 1 DESC;
The language was designed for non-programmers, so it replaces brackets and symbols with English verbs and nouns. That readability lets analysts, engineers, and product managers collaborate on the same code.
Core keywords stay the same, but functions, data types, and quoting rules vary. For example, MySQL accepts back-ticks for identifiers, while BigQuery prefers back-ticks plus safe navigation operators.
Most engines ignore whitespace, yet teams adopt styles—one clause per line, two-space indents—to spot logic blocks quickly and reduce merge conflicts in version control.
Galaxy auto-formats SQL on save, highlights keywords, and folds subqueries. Its AI copilot understands your workspace schema, so the SQL you write stays clean, correct, and easy to share.
Engineers and analysts constantly scan unfamiliar queries. A predictable look—uppercase keywords, ordered clauses, and aligned joins—cuts mental load and speeds code reviews. Uniform styling also lets automated tools, linters, and AI copilots parse intent, rewrite queries, and spot anti-patterns without human intervention.
Keywords are not case-sensitive in most engines, but identifiers may be. Writing keywords in uppercase and identifiers in lowercase avoids surprises.
Interactive shells often allow a single statement without a semicolon, yet scripts and multi-statement files require semicolons to separate commands.
Use a formatter like sqlfmt or enable Galaxy’s built-in auto-formatter, which applies company style rules on save.
Galaxy highlights style issues in real time, suggests clause ordering, and allows one-click fixes. Its AI copilot previews the formatted result before you run the query.
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