Add results from several COUNT queries

Question

I am trying to fetch the sum of several counts in one query:

SELECT(
    SELECT COUNT( * )
    FROM comments +
    SELECT COUNT( * )
    FROM tags +
    SELECT COUNT( * )
    FROM search
)

I am missing something here. I get syntax error.

Answer 1

SELECT ( SELECT COUNT(*) FROM comments ) 
     + ( SELECT COUNT(*) FROM tags ) 
     + ( SELECT COUNT(*) FROM search )

Answer 2

SELECT (
       SELECT  COUNT(*)
       FROM    comments
       ) +
       (
       SELECT  COUNT(*)
       FROM    tags
       ) +
       (
       SELECT  COUNT(*)
       FROM    search
       )

Answer 3

One more (not sure if supported with MySQL, though - works in SQL Server):

SELECT SUM(Counts) FROM
  (SELECT COUNT(*) AS Counts FROM COMMENTS UNION ALL
   SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Tags UNION ALL
   SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Search) s

Answer 4

SELECT SUM(ThisCount)
  FROM (
    SELECT COUNT(*) AS ThisCount
      FROM comments

    UNION ALL

    SELECT COUNT(*) AS ThisCount
      FROM tags

    UNION ALL

    SELECT COUNT(*) AS ThisCount
      FROM search
    )