replacing %var = with set %var and other things of this nature


I have a question about this. When making local variables I usually set them at the beginning of the script with their correct value and "bookmark" local variables that don't have a value but will be given one in the script.

var %ex = blah, %new

So then in my script I say:

%new = newvalue

Is it better for me to say:

var %new = newvalue


Is it better for me to use the /var command everytime in a script? I had always designated the local variable at the beginning.