That's a trick question, alright. But don't get so upset you didn't answer it correctly - I didn't either. My thoughts went something like "A predicate for joins that I don't know? Possible but very unlikely... Must be a code error". I didn't question the syntax rules ... But if they allow you to write "bad" code may be the rules are bad? Had the "as" word been mandatory you couldn't be tricked - after all how much of a saving are 2 letters?