How can a beginner ensure proper variable declaration and usage in PHP scripts to avoid fatal errors like the one mentioned in the forum thread?

To ensure proper variable declaration and usage in PHP scripts and avoid fatal errors, beginners should always initialize variables before using them, ensure variables are spelled correctly and consistently throughout the script, and avoid reusing variable names to prevent conflicts. Additionally, using error reporting functions like isset() and empty() can help catch undefined variable errors before they cause fatal issues.

<?php
// Proper variable declaration and usage
$variable = "Hello, World!";
echo $variable;
?>