Full Stops (Periods) (.)
* Mark the end of a sentence.
* Used in abbreviations (e.g., Dr., U.S.A.).
Commas (,)
* Separate items in a list.
* Set off introductory phrases and clauses.
* Separate independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.).
* Indicate a pause or break in a sentence.
Semicolons (;)
* Join two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning.
* Separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas.
Colons (:)
* Introduce a list, explanation, or quotation.
* Separate the hour from the minute in time.
Question Marks (?)
* Indicate a question.
Exclamation Marks (!)
* Show strong emotion or emphasis.
Apostrophes (')
* Form contractions (e.g., can't, shouldn't).
* Show possession (e.g., John's book, the cat's tail).
Quotation Marks (" ")
* Enclose direct speech.
* Indicate a title of a short work (e.g., a song, poem, or chapter).
Parentheses ()
* Enclose additional information, explanations, or comments.
Brackets []
* Used for clarifications or editorial insertions within a quotation.
Hyphens (-)
* Join words together to form compound words (e.g., well-being).
* Connect prefixes to words (e.g., pre-existing).
* Indicate a range of numbers (e.g., pages 10-15).
Dashes (—)
* Indicate a sudden break in thought.
* Set off parenthetical elements.
* Indicate a range of numbers or dates (e.g., 1980–1990).
Ellipsis (...)
* Indicate omitted words or sentences.
Slash (/)
* Separates lines of poetry.
* Indicates "or" or "and/or."
Note: Punctuation rules can be nuanced and vary depending on style guides (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).