In an approach for manipulating columns in a projection list in a database result set, a processor receives a database request having a projection operation for a plurality of columns in one or more tables, wherein the projection operation comprises a SELECT statement having a column list that includes having (a) a shorthand that specifies the plurality of columns and (b) a column sequence clause that specifies a column name from the plurality of columns and a resulting column position. A processor retrieves data records having the plurality of columns including the specified column name and the resulting column position. A processor generates a result set comprised of the data records having the plurality of columns, such that for the result set, values within the specified column name are inserted into the result set at the resulting column position.