Problems with " ' and other special characters

When I use my input box to enter data in my DB I can easily enter characters like the Apostrophe and Quotation Mark.

The data from that field enters into the DB and displays correctly on my website.

HOWEVER:
I cannot view it in my DB file which displays in a PHP file using ActiveWidgets Grid.
It says certain variables are suddenly unidentified and that I need to add "]" to certain lines.

It looks to me as if the PHP file I use to view and add to my DB is judging these quotation marks as CODE rather than normal text.

Looking at it in ActivePHP's administration pages gives no problem.

Does this make any sence and does anyone know what to do about it?

thanks !