title: Truly empty element with sql server for xml-directive
body: <p>How do I create a truly empty xml element with the for xml-directive in sql server (2005)?</p>
  
  <p>Example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>select
      ''
  for xml path('element'), root('elements')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Outputs:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;elements&gt;&lt;element&gt;&lt;/element&gt;&lt;/elements&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But what I really want is:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;elements&gt;&lt;element /&gt;&lt;/elements&gt;
  </code></pre>