mysql> SELECT a.item_number, a.value, LENGTH(a.value) AS length FROM imme AS a WHERE a.`file_key` = 'A' AND a.value LIKE 'Reluctant Reade%' LIMIT 2; +--------------+-----------------+--------+ | item_number | value | length | +--------------+-----------------+--------+ | 006001136X-1 | Reluctant Reade | 15 | | 006018826X-1 | Reluctant Reade | 15 | +--------------+-----------------+--------+ 2 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> SELECT a.item_number, a.value, LENGTH(a.value) AS length FROM imme AS a WHERE a.`file_key` = 'A' AND a.value = 'Reluctant Reade'; +--------------+-----------------+--------+ | item_number | value | length | +--------------+-----------------+--------+ | 1932425098-4 | Reluctant Reade | 15 | +--------------+-----------------+--------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) mysql>