[For Beginners] Python's SyntaxError Isn't Scary! A Thorough Guide to Common Causes and Fixes

When you're just starting to program, seeing those bright red error messages in the terminal... especially when you see the words "SyntaxError," it's easy to feel disheartened, thinking, "Ugh, I messed something up..." I totally get it.

But don't worry! The truth is, a SyntaxError is actually the "kindest" error in programming.

Hello! I'm the author, and just a few months ago, I was a complete beginner with zero programming knowledge, just like you. Through trial and error with the help of AI, I managed to single-handedly launch two websites in a month and a half (buyonjapan.com, copicode.com).

In this article, I'll thoroughly explain the "SyntaxError" that I stumbled upon so many times, focusing on "why the error occurs" and "how to fix it," from the same beginner's perspective and using as little jargon as possible. By the time you finish reading this, you'll have the confidence to solve SyntaxErrors on your own!

What is a SyntaxError Anyway? - A Sign from Python Saying, "Your Wording Might Be a Little Off"

A SyntaxError is a "syntax error." ...That probably doesn't help much, does it? To put it more simply, it's a friendly notification from Python saying, "You made a tiny mistake in the grammar or writing rules of the Python language."

For example, in English, if we write "I eat apples" but forget the period at the end, the meaning still gets across. But Python is extremely strict. If you write something that deviates even slightly from its rules, it will stop processing and throw an error, saying, "Sorry, I don't understand what this means!"

The important thing to remember is that a SyntaxError usually isn't a problem with your code's "logic" (the flow of operations), but simply a "typographical mistake." That's why there's absolutely no need to be scared. Instead, you should approach it with a casual attitude, like, "Oops, must be a typo."

[Learn with Real Examples] 7 Common SyntaxError Traps for Beginners

From here, I'll introduce specific causes of SyntaxErrors that made me throw my hands up in despair as a beginner, along with copy-paste-ready code fixes. I'll also share my experiences like, "I got stuck here too!" and "Here's how I asked AI to solve it!", so I hope you find it helpful.

1. Forgetting to Close Parentheses: `()` `{}` `[]`

My Experience: I did this one the most... especially with nested parentheses, I'd lose track of which ones were open or closed. Forgetting just one closing parenthesis would cause a flood of errors and make me panic.

Cause: In Python, parentheses serve to define a scope, indicating "this is all one block." If there's an opening parenthesis `(` without a corresponding closing one `)`, Python can't determine where the block ends and gets confused, thinking, "Hey, this block never ends...?"

❌ Incorrect Code (NG Example)

Like print("Hello, World!", the final `)` is missing.

# Forgetting the last parenthesis of the print function
print("Hello, World!"
      

Running this will result in a SyntaxError: unexpected EOF while parsing (Unexpected End-Of-File while parsing) error.

✅ Correct Code (OK Example)

By properly enclosing it in `()`, it will execute correctly.

# Correctly close the parenthesis
print("Hello, World!")
      

🤖 AI Pro Tip: Copy the error message and ask something like, "What does this Python error `SyntaxError: unexpected EOF while parsing` mean? Please explain it simply for a beginner." It will likely tell you that the cause is a forgotten closing parenthesis.

2. Forgetting to Close Quotation Marks: `''` `""`

My Experience: When you use a code editor (like VSCode), strings are highlighted in green or another color. I've had times where I forgot to close a quote, and all the code after it turned green, making me panic and think, "What is this!?" This color change is an important signal from the editor.

Cause: Quotation marks are symbols to tell Python, "This part here is a block of data called a 'string'." If you forget to close them, Python doesn't know where the string ends and mistakes the following code as part of the string.

❌ Incorrect Code (NG Example)

Like 'Today's weather is sunny, the final ' is missing.

# Forgetting to close the single quote
weather = 'Today's weather is sunny
print(weather)
      

Running this will result in a SyntaxError: EOL while scanning string literal (End-Of-Line while scanning string literal) error.

✅ Correct Code (OK Example)

Make sure to properly enclose the string with the same type of quotation marks at both ends.

# Correctly closing the single quote
weather = 'Today's weather is sunny'
print(weather)
      

🤖 AI Pro Tip: Try asking, "Please explain the difference between single and double quotes for strings in Python and how to use them." You'll learn that there's no fundamental difference and when it's convenient to use one over the other.

3. Forgetting the Colon (`:`)

My Experience: The colon that goes at the end of certain statements like `if`, `for`, and `def`. I have bitter memories of forgetting it, which somehow caused an error on the next line, making me waste time fixing the wrong place while thinking, "Why is this line the problem!?"

Cause: In Python, the colon acts as a signal that says, "A block of statements (an indented block of code) is about to begin!" Without this signal, Python can't predict what comes next, resulting in a syntax error.

❌ Incorrect Code (NG Example)

There is no colon : at the end of if age >= 20.

age = 25
# Forgetting the colon at the end of the if statement
if age >= 20
    print("You are an adult.")
      

Running this will produce a somewhat vague SyntaxError: invalid syntax error. Getting into the habit of checking the line *before* the one that throws the error makes this mistake easier to find.

✅ Correct Code (OK Example)

Don't forget to put a colon : at the end of the conditional expression.

age = 25
# Correctly placing a colon at the end of the if statement
if age >= 20:
    print("You are an adult.")
      

🤖 AI Pro Tip: Try asking, "Please explain why a colon is needed at the end of Python's if and for statements using an analogy a grade-schooler would understand." You'll get a memorable explanation, like "It's like the ':' mark that says, 'I'm about to start the story!'"

4. Indentation Error (`IndentationError`)

My Experience: This error is like a cousin to `SyntaxError`, but it's one of the biggest hurdles for beginners. "It looks right, but why am I getting an error?" The cause was often an invisible full-width space or a mix of spaces and tabs. This error decreased dramatically once I configured my editor to visualize spaces and tabs.

Cause: While many other programming languages use symbols like {} to define code blocks, Python uses the depth of indentation (spaces at the beginning of a line) to determine code groups (blocks). If this indentation is off, Python cannot correctly understand the code's structure. This is a key feature of Python and an important rule for making code readable.

The official Python documentation also states that indentation is the only way to denote code blocks.
Reference: Python 3 Documentation - Indentation

❌ Incorrect Code (NG Example)

The `print` statement after the `if` statement is not indented.

if True:
# This should be indented, but it's not
print("This is not indented")
      

Running this will result in a very direct IndentationError: expected an indented block.

✅ Correct Code (OK Example)

It is generally recommended to indent with four half-width spaces. Most code editors can be configured to automatically insert four half-width spaces when you press the Tab key.

if True:
    # Correctly indented with four half-width spaces
    print("This is correctly indented")
      

🤖 AI Pro Tip: If you ask a specific question like, "How can I automatically set Python's indentation to four half-width spaces in VSCode and how can I make spaces and tabs visible?", you'll get settings you can use right away.

5. Mixing up Assignment `=` and Comparison `==`

My Experience: I wanted to write "if A and B are equal" in a conditional statement, but I accidentally used a single `=` for assignment and got a `SyntaxError`. It's an easy mistake to make if you're used to the mathematical "=".

Cause: In Python, the meaning of symbols is strictly defined.

• = (single equal sign): Means assign the value on the right to the variable on the left (assignment). Example: score = 100
• == (double equal sign): Means check if the left and right are equal (comparison). Example: if score == 100:

❌ Incorrect Code (NG Example)

It uses the assignment operator = instead of the comparison operator == inside the `if` statement.

score = 90

# Using the assignment operator `=` instead of the comparison operator `==`
if score = 100:
    print("Perfect score!")
      

Running this will result in a SyntaxError: invalid syntax. (Some versions of Python might kindly suggest `SyntaxError: invalid syntax. Maybe you meant '==' or ':=' instead?`)

✅ Correct Code (OK Example)

Always use `==` for comparisons.

score = 100

# Correctly using the comparison operator `==`
if score == 100:
    print("Perfect score!")
      

🤖 AI Pro Tip: Requesting "Please summarize the difference between Python's comparison operators (==, !=, <, >, etc.) and the assignment operator (=) in a table with specific code examples" will help you neatly organize your knowledge.

6. Using Reserved Words (Keywords) as Variable Names

My Experience: I tried to create a variable named `print` because it means "to print," or wanted to define a class and tried to name a variable `class`. I didn't know that Python has words reserved for special meanings, and I was puzzled why I got an error, wondering, "Why is this particular word not allowed?"

Cause: Python has special words that are reserved for its grammar, such as `if`, `for`, `def`, `class`, and `print`. These are called "reserved words" or "keywords." You cannot use these words as variable or function names.

❌ Incorrect Code (NG Example)

for is a reserved word used for loops, so it cannot be used as a variable name.

# Trying to use the reserved word `for` as a variable name
for = "reserved word"
print(for)
      

Running this will result in a SyntaxError: invalid syntax.

✅ Correct Code (OK Example)

Use a clear variable name that avoids reserved words. A slight change like `my_for` or `for_text` is enough.

# Using a variable name that avoids reserved words
for_string = "Not a reserved word"
print(for_string)
      

💡 How to Check the List of Reserved Words

You can always check which words are reserved with the following code.

import keyword
print(keyword.kwlist)
      

🤖 AI Pro Tip: If you ask, "Please provide a list of Python's reserved words and explain the role of each keyword in simple terms," you can learn not just the list, but also their meanings.

7. f-string Formatting Errors

My Experience: f-strings are super convenient for concatenating variables and strings! But I made a lot of small mistakes, like forgetting the `f` at the beginning, or typing the curly braces `{}` with full-width characters. I meant to write `f"Hello, {name}"` but the screen just showed "Hello, {name}", and I was like, "Huh!?" more than once or twice.

Cause: An f-string is a feature that allows you to embed expressions inside string literals, using curly braces `{}`, by prefixing the string with `f`. Without this `f`, it's treated as a regular string. Also, if the `{}` are full-width or if you forget a closing brace, you will of course get a SyntaxError.

❌ Incorrect Code (NG Example)

Because the `f` before the string is forgotten, {name} is displayed as is.

name = "Yamada"
# Meant to be an f-string, but forgot the 'f' at the beginning
message = "My name is {name}."
print(message) # Output: My name is {name}.
      

Also, incorrect curly braces will cause an error.

name = "Suzuki"
# Forgetting to close the curly brace
# message = f"My name is {name." # This would cause a SyntaxError
      

✅ Correct Code (OK Example)

Put an `f` before the quotation mark and properly enclose the variable in half-width `{}`.

name = "Sato"
# Correct f-string syntax
message = f"My name is {name}."
print(message) # Output: My name is Sato.
      

🤖 AI Pro Tip: Asking for more advanced usage like "Please show me how to format numbers (e.g., thousands separators, decimal places) and dates in Python's f-strings" will make you appreciate the convenience of f-strings even more.

3 Good Habits to Prevent SyntaxErrors

The ability to solve errors is important, but preventing them in the first place is just as crucial. Here are three habits that I've found effective.

1. Rely on a Feature-Rich Code Editor
   Modern code editors like VSCode and PyCharm have features that point out mistakes as you write (linters) and use color-coding to highlight syntax errors (syntax highlighting). There's no reason not to use them. Simply having auto-completion for closing parentheses and automatic indentation can dramatically reduce mistakes.


2. Write in Small Increments, Run Frequently
   If you write 100 lines of code at once and then run it, it can be very difficult to find where the error occurred. Instead, get into the habit of checking your work in small units, like "run after writing one function" or "run after writing one loop." This way, if an error occurs, you can narrow down the problem to "it's somewhere in the few lines I just wrote."


3. Don't Fear Error Messages, Read Them First
   Seeing red text makes you want to look away, but force yourself to read it. The error message contains the biggest clues for solving the problem: "in which file, on which line," and "what kind of error" occurred. It's okay if you don't understand it at first. Just identifying keywords like "`IndentationError`" or "`unexpected EOF`" and copy-pasting them into Google or an AI assistant will often lead you to a solution.

Conclusion: Errors Are Your Best Teacher!

This time, I've shared the causes and solutions for `SyntaxError` that Python beginners often encounter, based on my own experiences.

• A SyntaxError is a grammatical mistake. Don't be afraid; think of it as a hint from Python.
• Forgetting to add or close parentheses, quotation marks, and colons is extremely common.
• Indentation is vital in Python. Be careful not to mix spaces and tabs.
• `=` is for assignment, `==` is for comparison. Be aware of this difference.
• When you get an error, the fastest way to improve is to read the message, copy it, and search for it.

Errors are unavoidable in programming. However, with every error you overcome, your knowledge and experience will surely grow. An error is not an enemy that's there to trouble you, but your "best teacher" that helps you improve your code.

I would be very happy if this article helps to alleviate even a little of your apprehension towards `SyntaxError`. Keep having fun and keep coding!