If syntax

Take a look at my if ( ) syntax line below. I am wondering if I have it wrong in same way. What I am trying to achieve is if the alias the user enters is already found in the database I want the words "Alias already in use" to be shown on the screen; otherwise "Unique alias" to be shown on the screen. PRESENTLY alias already in use is what comes up all the time. Ron mysql_connect(localhost,$username,$password); @mysql_select_db($database) or die( "Unable to select database"); $query="SELECT * FROM tablename WHERE alias LIKE '$alias%'"; if (mysql_query($query)) { echo "Alias already in use"; } else { echo "Unique alias"; mysql_close(); }