mysql> select /* my little comment */ count(*) from fact where val like "%c%"; +----------+ | count(*) | +----------+ | 0 | +----------+ 1 row in set (8.77 sec) mysql> select /* my little comment */ count(*) from fact where val like "%c%"; +----------+ | count(*) | +----------+ | 0 | +----------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) mysql> select /* my little comment2 */ count(*) from fact where val like "%c%"