declare @BegDate datetime, @EndDate datetime, @BegDateChar char(19), @EndDateChar char(19) set @BegDate = convert(datetime,'03/04/2008 00:00:00') set @EndDate = convert(datetime,'03/05/2008 23:59:59') set @BegDateChar= convert(char,@BegDate) set @EndDateChar= convert(char,@EndDate) select @BegDate as BegDate, @EndDate as EndDate, @BegDateChar as BegDateChar, @EndDateChar as EndDateChar --Query-1 (Execution Time: 00:00:00) select sum(AmtDue) as AmtDue from invfl with (nolock) where invdate between '03/04/2008 00:00:00' and '03/05/2008 23:59:59' --Query-2 (Execution Time: 00:00:18) select sum(AmtDue) as AmtDue from invfl with (nolock) where InvDate between @BegDateChar and @EndDateChar --Query-3 (Execution Time: 00:00:18) select sum(AmtDue) as AmtDue from invfl with (nolock) where InvDate between @BegDate and @EndDateCan you please tell me what the correct syntax is?