Why Does My SQL Query Show 'Incorrect Syntax Near '< >'' Even Though It Looks Correct?

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Troubleshooting the "Incorrect Syntax Near '<>'" Error in SQL Server Management Studio

When executing a SQL query involving a join operation between two tables, users may encounter the error: "Msg 102, Level 15, State 1, Line 6 Incorrect syntax near '<>.'" This puzzling error can persist despite the apparent correctness of the query syntax.

Cause and Solution:

The cause of this error is often subtle and stems from invisible characters introduced when copying code from external sources. These characters, such as carriage returns (CR), line feeds (LF), or non-breaking spaces, can interfere with the SQL parser.

To resolve this issue, meticulously inspect the query text for any non-printing characters. If found, carefully remove them and replace them with standard spaces using a text editor capable of displaying unprintable characters.

Example:

The following code segment contains hidden non-breaking spaces, which can cause the "Incorrect Syntax Near '<>'" error:

SELECT TOP 1000 *                
FROM                            
master.sys.procedures as procs
left join
master.sys.parameters as params
on procs.object_id = params.object_id

After removing the non-breaking spaces, the code should appear as:

SELECT TOP 1000 *
FROM
master.sys.procedures as procs
left join
master.sys.parameters as params
on procs.object_id = params.object_id

Once the invisible characters are removed, the query should execute without errors.

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