Title: 'Parse error: syntax error'
Last modified: August 24, 2016

---

# 'Parse error: syntax error'

 *  Resolved [Travellous World](https://wordpress.org/support/users/travellous-world/)
 * (@travellous-world)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-110/)
 * I was trying to create a new widget area in WordPress, with the help of this 
   article: [http://wpgyan.com/how-to-create-a-widget-area-in-wordpress-theme/#comment-116877](http://wpgyan.com/how-to-create-a-widget-area-in-wordpress-theme/#comment-116877)
 * Unfortunately, something went entirely wrong, and everything I try to do now 
   ends up in an error message, saying: Parse error: syntax error, unexpected ‘<‘
   in /home/trave251/public_html/wp-content/themes/christine/functions.php on line
   515
 * I can’t even access the functions.php area anymore to remove the code I entered.
   Can please someone help me with this?

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  [Chad](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lynneandchad/)
 * (@lynneandchad)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-110/#post-6179806)
 * You’re going to need to copy your `functions.php` file onto your hard drive, 
   edit it and re-upload it once it’s fixed.
 * This will get you started: [https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients](https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients)
 * You should also look into code editing software – there are some decent free 
   options available, just look to Google. Something with syntax highlighting makes
   tracking down this type of error MUCH easier.
 *  [Evan Herman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/eherman24/)
 * (@eherman24)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-110/#post-6179809)
 * For future reference, I’m venturing to guess that you copy and pasted the code
   exactly as it sits on that site. That would explain the error your getting. You
   shouldn’t have copied the php tag (`<?php`) but instead copied everything but
   the opening and closing php tags.
 * eg:
 *     ```
       /**
        * Register Widget Area.
        *
        */
       function wpgyan_widgets_init() {
   
       	register_sidebar( array(
       		'name' => 'Header Sidebar',
       		'id' => 'header_sidebar',
       		'before_widget' => '<div>',
       		'after_widget' => '</div>',
       		'before_title' => '<h2 class="rounded">',
       		'after_title' => '</h2>',
       	) );
       }
       add_action( 'widgets_init', 'wpgyan_widgets_init' );
       ```
   
 *  Thread Starter [Travellous World](https://wordpress.org/support/users/travellous-world/)
 * (@travellous-world)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-110/#post-6179858)
 * Thank you both! The problem has been resolved!

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘'Parse error: syntax error'’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [parse-error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/parse-error/)
 * [widget area](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/widget-area/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 3 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [Travellous World](https://wordpress.org/support/users/travellous-world/)
 * Last activity: [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-110/#post-6179858)
 * Status: resolved

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