problem with query where column name is the same as a keyword

hi

I am having trouble with the following query within my store procedure.
as you can see, i am making an union of 2 separate queries.

in the 2nd part of the union, i encounter a column in the database where the column name is the same as the keyword "desc"

is there a way which i can get around this, or is there any other way that i can sepecify the column? (excluding the possibility of using *)

CREATE PROCEDURE topcat.getTransHistory
(
@.contact_id numeric(9)
)
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE @.phone_no varchar(255)

set @.phone_no = (select top 1 phone_num from topcat.class_contact where _id = @.contact_id)

select cast(trans_new.trans_date as varchar(50)) date,
'' code,
cast(payment.date_paid as varchar(50)) datepaid,
'' "desc",
case payment.payment_type
when 'cheque' then trans_new.item_total
else ''
end pledged,
'' mail,
case payment.payment_type
when 'cheque' then ''
else trans_new.item_total
end received,
'' receipt
from topcat.class_transaction trans_new left outer join topcat.class_payment payment on trans_new._id = payment.transaction_id
where trans_new.contact_id = @.contact_id
union
select cast(trans_old.date as varchar(50)) "date",
trans_old.code,
cast(trans_old.datepaid as varchar(50)) "datepaid",
trans_old.desc,
cast(trans_old.pledged as varchar(128)),
trans_old.mail,
cast(trans_old.received as varchar(128)),
trans_old.receipt
from topcat.MMTRANS$ trans_old
where phone = @.phone_no

END
GO

Cheers
James :)wrap your column name that is a keyword in square brackets eg [desc]|||thank you
thank you
thank you

you are a life saver, i was goin to change the column name of the table if i couldn't find an alternative way of doing it.

:)|||no worries,... try to avoid keywords in the future would be my advise though... ;)|||i was on a contract once and there converted database had tables and columns all over the place named with keywords.

i will never forget they had a column called select in a table called order.
nightmare to say the least.