DECLARE @BadCharList varchar(32), @StringToTest varchar(50) SET @StringToTest = 'CHECK Constraint z' SELECT PATINDEX('%[!@#$%^&*()]%', @StringToTest) -- or SET @BadCharList = '!@#$%^&*()' SELECT PATINDEX('%[' + @BadCharList + ']%', @StringToTest)>The function would allow the code to be reused over several tables or even databases. It could be used in triggers.