What are the different types of punctuation marks?

There are several different types of punctuation marks used in writing. These include:

1. Period (.) - Used to indicate the end of a sentence or abbreviation.
2. Comma (,) - Used to separate items in a list, separate clauses in a sentence, or indicate a pause.
3. Question mark (?) - Used at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question.
4. Exclamation mark (!) - Used at the end of a sentence to indicate strong emotion or emphasis.
5. Colon (:) - Used to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation.
6. Semicolon (;) - Used to separate two closely related independent clauses.
7. Quotation marks (" ") - Used to indicate direct speech or to enclose a quote.
8. Apostrophe (') - Used to indicate possession or contraction.
9. Parentheses ( ) - Used to enclose additional information or clarify a statement.
10. Dash (-) - Used to indicate a sudden break or interruption in a sentence.
11. Ellipsis (...) - Used to indicate the omission of words or a pause in speech.
12. Hyphen (-) - Used to join words together or indicate a range.

These punctuation marks play a crucial role in clarifying meaning, indicating tone, and organizing written language effectively.