# This is bad my $sql = qq{ INSERT INTO ECinterface..CustomContent (contentType, contentDate, question, answer) VALUES ('tileInfo', $date, $question, $answer)}; my $sth = $dbh->prepare($sql); $sth->execute; # This is good my $sql = qq{ INSERT INTO ECinterface..CustomContent (contentType, contentDate, question, answer) VALUES ( ?,?,?,? )}; my $sth = $dbh->prepare($sql); $sth->execute( 'tileInfo', $date, $question, $answer );