question Re: Exception: Syntax error when trying to Escape the apostrophe in Support Questions

Exception: Syntax error when trying to Escape the apostrophe

Shikhar88 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:34:46 GMT

Hi,

I am getting the below error when trying to escape the apostrophe character in HUE Impala.

select * from hi_problem_view
where
state like 'Won''t fix'

won't fix is a value that I am trying to filter by for records.

Error:

AnalysisException: Syntax error in line 3:undefined: state like 'Won''t fix' ^ Encountered: STRING LITERAL Expected: AND, BETWEEN, DIV, GROUP, HAVING, ILIKE, IN, IREGEXP, IS, LIKE, LIMIT, NOT, OFFSET, OR, ORDER, REGEXP, RLIKE, UNION CAUSED BY: Exception: Syntax error

Re: Exception: Syntax error when trying to Escape the apostrophe

robbiez — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 02:31:37 GMT

I'd suggest you use a backslash to escape special characters. Please try this query:

select * from hi_problem_view where state like 'Won\'t fix'

Re: Exception: Syntax error when trying to Escape the apostrophe

Shikhar88 — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 21:55:41 GMT

Thanks! That worked