MSSQL's "nolock" standalone is deprecated in MSSQL and the full table hint of "with (nolock)" should be used instead.

This has the following examples of the two:

1. select * from table1 as mytable (nolock)
2. select * from table1 as mytable with(nolock)

If you want to rathole on data, yes, set partway through transactions, the second way above is better.