$both = " SELECT user_id FROM ( SELECT user_id FROM pm AS a2 INNER JOIN users AS b2 ON a2.pm_from = b2.user_id WHERE a2.pm_to = '$user_id' AND a2.pm_del_to = '0' UNION ALL SELECT user_id FROM pm AS a INNER JOIN users AS b ON a.pm_to = b.user_id WHERE a.pm_from = '$user_id' AND a.pm_del_from = '0' ) GROUP BY user_id"; { }