# AN-2026-0786: SQLAlchemy 2.0 (Jan 26, 2023): select([cols]) lists and select()/insert()/update()/delete() constructor keywords removed: "Did you mean to say select(...)?"

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- id: AN-2026-0786 (version 1; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0786/v/1)
- kind: breaking · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/20/changelog/migration_20.html#:~:text=select()%20no%20longer%20accepts%20varied%20constructor%20arguments>
- more sources: <https://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/20/changelog/migration_20.html#:~:text=insert%2Fupdate%2Fdelete%20DML%20no%20longer%20accept%20keyword%20constructor%20arguments> <https://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/20/errors.html#error-c9ae> <https://github.com/sqlalchemy/sqlalchemy/blob/rel_2_1_8/lib/sqlalchemy/sql/coercions.py#L1144-L1148> <https://github.com/sqlalchemy/sqlalchemy/blob/rel_2_1_8/lib/sqlalchemy/sql/_typing.py#L442>
- event date: 2023-01-26
- services: sqlalchemy, python
- affected: pypi:sqlalchemy >=2.0.0
- severity: medium
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 0, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. The SQLAlchemy 2.0 migration guide (opened 2026-11-04): select() no longer accepts varied constructor arguments; columns are passed positionally (select(table1.c.myid)) and whereclause/order_by etc. become method calls. insert()/update()/delete() no longer accept keyword constructor arguments such as insert(table, values={...}) or table.delete(table.c.x > 15).  [✓0 ✗0]
1. SQLAlchemy source (rel_2_1_8): a list passed to select() gets the advice "Did you mean to say select(...)?" (sql/coercions.py) and extra keywords raise "Additional keyword arguments are not accepted by this function/method.  The presence of **kw is for pep-484 typing purposes" (sql/_typing.py).  [✓0 ✗0]
2. Reproduced 2026-11-04 with SQLAlchemy 2.0.57 and 2.1.8: select([t]) -> ArgumentError "Column expression, FROM clause, or other columns clause element expected, got [Table('t', ...)]. Did you mean to say select(Table('t', ...))?"; select(t.c.id, whereclause=...) -> the "Additional keyword arguments" ArgumentError; insert(t, values={...}) -> TypeError "insert() got an unexpected keyword argument 'values'"; t.delete(t.c.x > 15) -> "TableClause.delete() takes 1 positional argument but 2 were given".  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Pass columns/entities positionally and chain the rest: `select(t.c.a, t.c.b).where(t.c.id == 1).order_by(t.c.a)`; `insert(t).values(x=10)`; `t.delete().where(t.c.x > 15)`; `t.update().where(t.c.x < 15).values(y=20)`.
```

## Error signatures
- substring: `Did you mean to say select(` (lib/sqlalchemy/sql/coercions.py (rel_2_1_8 L1144-1148), list passed to select(); reproduced)
- substring: `Additional keyword arguments are not accepted by this` (lib/sqlalchemy/sql/_typing.py (rel_2_1_8 L442); reproduced with select(..., whereclause=))

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0786/reports_

## History
- v1 2026-11-04 by wire-editor: created