Parentheses ( ) are used for nonessential material that provides additional information or explanation. This material can be removed without changing the sentence's meaning.
Example: "The new car (a bright red convertible) was parked in the driveway."
Dashes (-) are used for stronger interruptions or to create a dramatic pause. They can also be used to set off a list or series of items.
Example: "The detective had one suspect in mind - the mysterious stranger in the black coat."
Commas (,) are used for short, nonessential interruptions that are easily understood as separate from the main part of the sentence.
Example: "The meeting, which was held in the conference room, was quite productive."
Other Punctuation:
* Colons (:) can be used to introduce a list or explanation.
* Semicolons (;) can be used to separate two closely related independent clauses.
The specific punctuation used will depend on the context and the desired effect.