Punctuation is the system of marks used to clarify meaning, separate sentences and clauses, and indicate pauses and emphasis in writing.
Here are some examples of punctuation marks and their functions:
* Periods (.) mark the end of a sentence.
* Commas (,) separate items in a list, introduce clauses, and indicate a pause.
* Semicolons (;) separate closely related independent clauses.
* Colons (:) introduce lists, explanations, and quotations.
* Question marks (?) indicate a question.
* Exclamation marks (!) indicate strong emotion.
* Parentheses ( ) enclose additional information.
* Brackets [ ] are used to enclose explanatory notes or comments.
* Hyphens (-) are used to connect words, create compound adjectives, and indicate word breaks.
* Dashes (—) are used to set off parenthetical information, indicate a break in thought, or emphasize a word or phrase.
By using punctuation correctly, you can make your writing clearer, more concise, and easier to understand.