When using `FETCH`, it is important to use an [ORDER BY] (../../../sql-reference/statements/select/order-by.md) clause that constrains the result rows into a unique order. Otherwise, you will get an unpredictable subset of the query's rows.
`ROW` and `ROWS` as well as `FIRST` and `NEXT` are noise words that don't influence the effects of these conditions.
The `ONLY` option is used to return rows that immediately follow the rows omitted by the `OFFSET`.
The `WITH TIES` option is used to return any additional rows that tie for the last place in the result set according to the `ORDER BY` clause. The `ORDER BY` is mandatory in this case.
!!! note "Note"
According to the standard, the `OFFSET` clause must come before the `FETCH` clause if both are present.