What did the early Greeks and Romans use to separate words before punctuation existed?

The early Greeks and Romans utilized a variety of methods to separate words in their writing before the introduction of punctuation as we know it today. The most notable technique was the use of spaces, which served to visually delineate one word from another, enabling clearer reading. Additionally, they employed various symbols or marks that functioned similarly to punctuation, providing cues to the reader, albeit not in a standardized way.

The concept of paragraphing also appeared in their texts, where the content was divided into sections or paragraphs to organize ideas or themes. All of these techniques combined facilitated the readability of their texts, illustrating a sophisticated understanding of written communication even in the absence of formalized punctuation systems. Thus, the choice indicating that all these methods were used captures the complexity and adaptability of early writing practices among the Greeks and Romans.