Richard Huxton <dev@archonet.com> writes: > I think it's just the brackets () - plpgsql's parser isn't terribly > sophisticated. It's not plpgsql's fault --- you'll get the same result if you put parentheses around a DELETE command at the SQL command line. regression=# (delete from fool); ERROR: syntax error at or near "delete" LINE 1: (delete from fool); ^ The OP may be used to putting parens into his FOR loops because it works with SELECT: regression=# (select * from zz1); f1 | f2 | f3 ----+----+---- (0 rows) The difference is that SELECT can be put into larger groupings (eg UNIONs) so it has to be parenthesiz-able. If we ever considered supporting DELETE RETURNING as a component of larger queries, this syntax difference would likely go away. regards, tom lane ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 2: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster