Title: -functions.php syntax error-
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# -functions.php syntax error-

 *  [silverla](https://wordpress.org/support/users/silverla/)
 * (@silverla)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functionsphp-syntax-error/)
 * Hi — I tried to add a sidebar to my wordpress ‘Shelf’ theme for website lrnsilverman.
   com and edited my “functions.php” in wordpress. Now I cannot access my dashboard
   and receive this error message:
 * Parse error: syntax error, unexpected ‘<‘ in /home/ppaper/public_html/lrnsilverman.
   com/wp-content/themes/shelf_pro/functions.php on line 4
 * From what I read online, I understand that I need to re-upload the correct, unedited‘
   functions.php’ file from my theme, but I don’t understand how to do that. Is 
   there another way to access the dashboard to fix the problem?
 * Can you help me figure it out? Any help is MUCH appreciated.
    Thank you, Lauren

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [Andrew Nevins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/anevins/)
 * (@anevins)
 * WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functionsphp-syntax-error/#post-3217478)
 * Contact your theme’s vendors, or their [support forum](http://premium-themes.forums.wordpress.com/forum/shelf)
   for support concerning their themes.
 *  [mvandemar](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mvandemar/)
 * (@mvandemar)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functionsphp-syntax-error/#post-3217485)
 * > From what I read online, I understand that I need to re-upload the correct,
   > unedited ‘functions.php’ file from my theme, but I don’t understand how to 
   > do that. Is there another way to access the dashboard to fix the problem?
 * With the theme broken, you will need to either access the functions.php file 
   through your hosting control panel, or via ftp. I would strongly suggest learning
   how to do this before making modifications to a theme, since breaking the theme
   can prevent access to the WordPress dashboard. I recommend trying FileZilla, 
   which is free, and they have a tutorial here:
 * [http://wiki.filezilla-project.org/FileZilla_Client_Tutorial_%28en%29](http://wiki.filezilla-project.org/FileZilla_Client_Tutorial_%28en%29)
 * There are video tutorials available out there too if you look for them. Ftp (
   which stands for file transfer protocol) is one of the basics every person who
   owns a website should know.
 * -Michael

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘-functions.php syntax error-’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 2 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [mvandemar](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mvandemar/)
 * Last activity: [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functionsphp-syntax-error/#post-3217485)
 * Status: not resolved

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