trimming query return value

[Cereldine]

HI, i have a field in a query called [cost_type], these typically contains the values "principle works" or "additional works" how can i set the query up so that it doesn't return the "works" part of the record? Could i just return the first 10 characters of the result?
thanks

 

[Bat17]

left([cost_type],10)
Will return the leftmost 10 characters
Peter