variable names

Hello, I have installed PHP4 with Apache support - the phpinfo works fine and I am able to write PHP code to display a timetable from a MYSQL database. However I cannot add or use the command insert when trying to add information. I have done a few tests and when I run the same scripts with the values already inputted the database is updated. i.e.. instead of asking the user for the values, I inset them as follows INSERT values $DNTable VALUES ('', 'crap', '555-555'); - and this works fine and database is auto-incrementated. NOW if I replace 'crap' with $name or $phone the database is updated BUT the values are blank. ie. database id name phone 1 2 3 Now I wrote a basic script that just displays the values inputted by a user and they appear blank as well? Any ideas?