SQL PHP Syntax

Hi, I'm just wondering but if my webhost has SQL version 5.1, what are the syntax of that for PHP login & register forms? So like 

$q = "INSERT INTO `Table1` (`username`,`password`,`email`) " 
    ."VALUES ('".$_POST["username"]."', " 
    ."PASSWORD('".$_POST["password"]."'), " 
    ."'".$_POST["email"]."')";

Would this be the right use of syntax? I'm having a few problems with making a clean and safe php login and register form. 

Thanks.