I think this SQL Server x.x oddity goes back to the old Sybase 4 days! 
If you want to use a database name that's been dubbed something like 'paula-objects' and type out:
use paula-objects
then execute the request, you'll get the error message: Incorrect syntax near '-'
just type this instead:
use [paula-objects]
when you execute the request, the syntax error will clear up! 