Odd MySQL error on custom WordPress query - mysql

Question

I'm trying to run a MySQL query via WordPress, to bring back a list of posts that I want to delete because they have no "like" votes (using someone else's plugin data). The query works perfectly in phpMyAdmin but gives a syntax error when I run it through WP... and I see absolutely no reason why it would do this.
Here's the query code, which checks for posts over 30 days old that have no corresponding "like" entry in wti_like_post (whether positive or negative):
$novotesquery = "SELECT * FROM $wpdb->posts
WHERE $wpdb->posts.post_type = 'post'
AND $wpdb->posts.post_status = 'publish'
AND $wpdb->posts.post_date < DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 30 DAY)
AND $wpdb->posts.ID NOT IN
(SELECT DISTINCT post_id FROM $wpdb->wti_like_post)" ;
$result = $wpdb->get_results($novotesquery);
The syntax error says there's a problem on the last line of the SQL (the SELECT in parentheses): "You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ')' at line 6".
When I run the query in phpMyAdmin (replacing "$wpdb->" with the table prefix), it works a treat. If anyone can tell me why the SQL query will run on the server and not in WP, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Perhaps it's just a matter of defensive parenthesis
$novotesquery = "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->posts}
WHERE {$wpdb->posts}.post_type = 'post'
AND {$wpdb->posts}.post_status = 'publish'
AND {$wpdb->posts}.post_date < DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 30 DAY)
AND {$wpdb->posts}.ID NOT IN
(SELECT DISTINCT post_id FROM {$wpdb->wti_like_post})" ;
Perhaps you should use $wpdb->query method instead of get_results and finally, perhaps wti_like_posts is not yet declared when your code runs.
What about die($novotesquery) right before "$result" line?