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

The early Greeks and Romans primarily used spaces to separate words before the advent of punctuation, which is why the choice highlighting "spaces" is important. The development of writing systems in ancient times saw the introduction of individual letters, but the texts were often written in a continuous script without any spaces or punctuation, making it challenging to read.

However, in addition to spaces, there were also instances where specific symbols were incorporated to indicate separations between thoughts or phrases, which aligns with the possibility of "symbols" as a method. The choice that includes "all of these" captures the essence of the various techniques that may have been utilized collectively, indicating that while spaces were indeed a significant feature, symbols and other elements may have played a role as well.

The mention of paragraphed text is less appropriate, as the concept of paragraphs, with clear delineation of separate sections, developed later in the evolution of written language. The inclusion of both spaces and symbols in the early writing practices demonstrates the pragmatic approaches taken by these civilizations to enhance the readability of their texts. Hence, selecting the option that encompasses all aspects shows a comprehensive understanding of early writing methodologies.