diff --git a/go/vt/sqlparser/ast.go b/go/vt/sqlparser/ast.go
index f68e69329..1fa3415ad 100644
--- a/go/vt/sqlparser/ast.go
+++ b/go/vt/sqlparser/ast.go
@@ -1795,7 +1795,16 @@ func (node *ColName) Format(buf *TrackedBuffer) {
 	if !node.Qualifier.IsEmpty() {
 		buf.astPrintf(node, "%v.", node.Qualifier)
 	}
-	buf.astPrintf(node, "%v", node.Name)
+	if !buf.IsDelimitCols() {
+		buf.astPrintf(node, "%v", node.Name)
+		return
+	}
+	if node.Name.IsEmpty() {
+		return
+	}
+	buf.WriteString(`"`)
+	buf.WriteString(node.Name.GetRawVal())
+	buf.WriteString(`"`)
 }
 
 // Format formats the node.
diff --git a/go/vt/sqlparser/parser.go b/go/vt/sqlparser/parser.go
index 2d5efa8d6..04ac2c3d6 100644
--- a/go/vt/sqlparser/parser.go
+++ b/go/vt/sqlparser/parser.go
@@ -221,3 +221,14 @@ func String(node SQLNode) string {
 	buf.Myprintf("%v", node)
 	return buf.String()
 }
+
+// String returns a string representation of an SQLNode.
+func ColDelimitedString(node SQLNode) string {
+	if node == nil {
+		return "<nil>"
+	}
+
+	buf := NewTrackedBuffer(nil).WithDelimitCols(true)
+	buf.Myprintf("%v", node)
+	return buf.String()
+}
diff --git a/go/vt/sqlparser/tracked_buffer.go b/go/vt/sqlparser/tracked_buffer.go
index 9f11f426a..a6ee9a769 100644
--- a/go/vt/sqlparser/tracked_buffer.go
+++ b/go/vt/sqlparser/tracked_buffer.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ type TrackedBuffer struct {
 	*strings.Builder
 	bindLocations []bindLocation
 	nodeFormatter NodeFormatter
+	isDelimitCols bool
 }
 
 // NewTrackedBuffer creates a new TrackedBuffer.
@@ -46,6 +47,15 @@ func NewTrackedBuffer(nodeFormatter NodeFormatter) *TrackedBuffer {
 	}
 }
 
+func (buf *TrackedBuffer) IsDelimitCols() bool {
+	return buf.isDelimitCols
+}
+
+func (buf *TrackedBuffer) WithDelimitCols(isDelimitCols bool) *TrackedBuffer {
+	buf.isDelimitCols = isDelimitCols
+	return buf
+}
+
 // WriteNode function, initiates the writing of a single SQLNode tree by passing
 // through to Myprintf with a default format string
 func (buf *TrackedBuffer) WriteNode(node SQLNode) *TrackedBuffer {