{"id":29103,"date":"2021-01-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=29103"},"modified":"2025-05-21T16:27:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T23:27:09","slug":"how-to-fix-syntax-errors-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-syntax-errors-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix Syntax Errors in WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you found this article because you\u2019re staring at a WordPress <\/a><\/span>error<\/a><\/span> message where your website used to be, take a deep breath and put on your superhero cape (tights are optional).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there\u2019s a problem, but it\u2019s possible to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your site hasn\u2019t disappeared into the ether. It\u2019s still there, behind that error message. The issue may be something as simple as a missing semicolon in a PHP file. WordPress syntax errors aren\u2019t frequent, but they do occur and are relatively simple to correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explain what a syntax error is, along with some common causes. Then we\u2019ll walk you through the steps to take to locate and fix the error. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a Syntax Error?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A syntax error<\/a><\/span> occurs when a command is not written correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This may include the presence of a grammatical mistake, a misspelled word or missing symbol, or an incorrect punctuation mark in your site\u2019s code. In WordPress, this is usually a PHP error<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Common Causes of Syntax Errors in WordPress<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A syntax error may occur when you\u2019ve pasted code incorrectly. Maybe you missed a portion when you copied the code or perhaps there is an extra closing tag at the end of the script.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a PHP open tag: <?php, and this is a closing tag: ?>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you copy and paste a PHP code snippet, it often includes the open tag, causing a syntax error. Since you are probably pasting the snippet into existing code, you don\u2019t need to include the open tag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also get a syntax error when you are editing your theme<\/a><\/span> in the WordPress Customizer. If this happens, you\u2019ll generally know what the problem is, or at least where in the file it\u2019s occurring. If you aren\u2019t sure, don\u2019t worry. You can locate the error by making a few changes to the wp-config.php<\/span> file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason you might see this message is because of a plugin update or installation. The extension may not be compatible with your WordPress version, or there may be other issues at play. If you were updating or installing a plugin<\/a><\/span> when the error happened, that\u2019s most likely the source of the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tRelated Article<\/span>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t18 Common WordPress Errors (And How To Fix Them)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Why Fixing the WordPress Syntax Error Matters<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A syntax error is an indication that something isn\u2019t right within your site\u2019s code. This issue can break your website, leaving you with a blank page or error message<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your website is down or inaccessible, it will obviously hamper the User Experience (UX)<\/a><\/span>. Besides hurting your traffic and conversion rates, having a blank page where your site should be can also hurt your Search Engine Optimization<\/a><\/span> (SEO) rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WordPress syntax error messages can be concerning, especially if you aren\u2019t familiar with website code. Fortunately, as you\u2019ll see, most syntax errors have a simple solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Fix a Syntax Error in WordPress via SFTP<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a syntax error occurs, you can fix it by either removing or correcting the code containing the error. Either way, you\u2019ll need access to the file where the problem is occurring. If you\u2019re locked out of your WordPress admin dashboard<\/a>, you can access this by using a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a DreamHost customer, this process is especially easy. There\u2019s no need to download a third-party application. You can access your website files using our dedicated WebFTP<\/a><\/span> tool.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"DreamHost\u2019s<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you aren’t a DreamHost customer or prefer to use an FTP client, FileZilla<\/a><\/span> is a good option. Note that you\u2019ll always want to connect using the more secure Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) rather than FTP. This will ensure the transferred data is encrypted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need some information to connect to your website via SFTP<\/a><\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n