mysql> select * from test; +---+---+ | a | b | +---+---+ | a | a | | a | a | | a | b | | b | b | +---+---+ 4 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> SELECT * from test; +---+---+ | a | b | +---+---+ | a | a | | a | a | | a | b | | b | b | +---+---+ 4 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> SELECT -> -> ; ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '' at line 1 mysql> SELECT * from test; +---+---+ | a | b | +---+---+ | a | a | | a | a | | a | b | | b | b | +---+---+ 4 rows in set (0.00 sec)