SELECT Descript, MyString, p2 = UNICODE(SUBSTRING(MyString,2,1)) FROM ( SELECT Descript = 'Normal Latin F', MyString = CAST(N'4F' AS NVARCHAR(2)) UNION ALL SELECT Descript = 'Wide Latin F', N'4F') d--WHERE MyString = '4F' -- need a width-sensitive collation hereWHERE MyString = N'4F' -- need a width-sensitive collation here