Punctuation marks

. = full stop, period (US English)

, = comma
: = colon
; = semi-colon
?= question mark
!= exclamation mark
-= hyphen (when used to separate words)
--= dash
...= quotation marks, double quotes
...= single quotes
[...]= square brackets
{...}= chain brackets
1. Comma
Separating main clauses:
Main clauses separated by and, or and but are not normally separated by commas,
although commas may be used between clauses which dont have the same subject.
Separating main and subordinate clauses
Commas are usually used if the subordinate clause comes before
the main one.
With adjectives
Commas are used between adjectives in attributive and predicative positions. A comma
is not usually used before an adjective followed by and.
With lists
Commas are used to separate items in a list, except for a final item preceded by and.In
American English, however, the norm is to have a comma before and in a list.
With adjuncts
Here the comma often coincides with a pause in speech.
In reported speech
Commas are used to indicate that direct speech is following or has
just occurred. When the direct speech is first, the comma comes
before the closing of the quotation marks:
He said,Now its time for big changes.

2. Colon

Used to introduce lists, to indicate a subtitle or to indicate a subdivision of a topic.

3. Semi-colon
Semi-colons are sometimes used instead of full stops to separate two main clauses. In
such cases the clauses remain grammatically separate but are linked in meaning. Semicolons are not frequently used in contemporary English. Full stops and commas are
much more common:
Some cats sleep during the night; most cats are active during the dark

4. Reported Speech
The reporting clause can appear in three different positions. Note the position of
commas and full stops:
The course tutor said to us, Dont waste your time in your first term here.
Dont waste your time in your first term here,the course tutor said to us.
Dont waste your time, the course tutor said to us, in your first term here.