title: String variable as argument to Get-ChildItem
body: <p>Why is it that this works:</p>
  
  <pre><code>PS C:\Users\user&gt; Get-ChildItem '\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But this does not:</p>
  
  <pre><code>PS C:\Users\user&gt; $a = "'\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'"
  PS C:\Users\user&gt; Get-ChildItem $a
  
  Cannot find path 'C:\Users\user\'\COMPUTER\folder with spaces''
  because it does not exist
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>How can I use a variable to do something to the effect of the latter?</p>