You can, optionally, give a column a name that might not otherwise be named using the AS clause. For example: SQL> SELECT JOB_CODE AS JOB, cont> MAXIMUM_SALARY - MINIMUM_SALARY AS RANGE cont> FROM JOBS cont> WHERE JOB_CODE LIKE 'S%'; JOB RANGE SANL 20000.00 SCTR 15000.00 SPGM 25000.00 3 rows selected You can use asterisks (*) as wildcards in a select list. To use delimited identifiers, you must specify the SQL99 or similar dialect, or use the SET QUOTING RULES statement for these dialects.