One error you may encounter in Python is:

SyntaxError: positional argument follows keyword argument

This error occurs when you use a positional argument in a function after using a keyword argument.

Here’s the difference between the two:

Positional arguments are ones that have no “keyword” in front of them.

• Example: my_function(2, 2)

Keyword arguments are ones that do have a “keyword” in front of them.

• Example: my_function(a=2, b=2)

If you use a positional argument after a keyword argument then Python will throw an error.

• Example: my_function(a=2, 2)

The following example shows how this error may occur in practice.

Example: Positional Argument Follows Keyword Argument

Suppose we have the following function in Python that multiplies two values and then divides by a third:

defdo_stuff(a, b):    return a * b / c

The following examples show valid and invalid ways to use this function:

Valid Way #1: All Positional Arguments

The following code shows how to use our function with all positional arguments:

do_stuff(4, 10, 5)

8.0

No error is thrown because Python knows exactly which values to use for each argument in the function.

Valid Way #2: All Keyword Arguments

The following code shows how to use our function with all keyword arguments:

do_stuff(a=4, b=10, c=5)

8.0

Once again no error is thrown because Python knows exactly which values to use for each argument in the function.

Valid Way #3: Positional Arguments Before Keyword Arguments

The following code shows how to use our function with positional arguments used before keyword arguments:

do_stuff(4, b=10, c=5)

8.0

No error is thrown because Python knows that the value 4 must be assigned to the a argument.

Invalid Way: Positional Arguments After Keyword Arguments

The following code shows how we may attempt to use the function with positional arguments used after keyword arguments:

do_stuff(a=4, 10, 5)

SyntaxError: positional argument follows keyword argument

An error is thrown because we used positional arguments after keyword arguments.

Specifically, Python doesn’t know if the 10 and 5 values should be assigned to arguments b or c so it’s unable to execute the function.

The following tutorials explain how to fix other common errors in Python: