Let’s talk about Python syntax errors and how you can avoid them! First off, let’s discuss indentation. Unlike other languages that use braces or keywords for block structure, Python uses whitespace (usually four spaces) to indicate blocks. So if you forget to add those precious little spacers, your code won’t work and you’ll get an error that looks something like this:

File “example.py”, line 10
def my_function():
^
IndentationError: expected an indented block

This is a classic example of what we in the biz call a “duh” moment. But don’t worry, it happens to us all! Just remember that Python loves its whitespace and you’ll be golden! Another common error is forgetting to add parentheses or brackets when calling functions or creating lists/tuples/dictionaries. This can lead to some pretty hilarious syntax errors:

File “example2.py”, line 15
def my_function(x, y):
return x + y # missing parentheses after function call!
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax (, line 15)

Or how about this one?

File “example3.py”, line 20
my_list = [x, y] for x in range(10), y in range(10) # missing parentheses around tuple!

This error can be a bit tricky to spot at first, but once you get the hang of it, they’re pretty easy to avoid. Just remember that Python is all about consistency and structure, so make sure your code follows those principles as well! Finally, string literals. There are several different types of strings in Python (normal, multi-line, raw), each with their own unique syntax. Here’s an example:

File “example4.py”, line 25
print(“I just printed {} pages to the printer {}. “.format(num, printer)) # missing quotes around string!
^
SyntaxError: EOL while scanning single-quoted string (, line 25)

This error is pretty self-explanatory. Just make sure your strings are enclosed in either single or double quotes, and you’ll be good to go!