Final answer:
Punctuation marks such as commas, dashes, and parentheses are used to add extra details in a sentence, with commas being the least emphatic, dashes adding more emphasis, and parentheses downplaying the additional content.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of punctuation mark used to identify words that add extra details in the middle of a sentence can vary based on the emphasis desired for the additional information. Commas are commonly used to set off nonessential information with a light pause, such as in the example, 'Quentin's father gave him a golden pocket watch, which was a priceless family heirloom.'
On the other hand, dashes are used to add emphasis or to set off phrases and appositives that require a stronger break from the rest of the sentence, for example, 'The roof of that car was covered in Astroturf—a strange sight!' Parentheses are utilized to downplay content, enclosing material that is supplementary and least emphasized, such as dates or clarifying information. A hyphen is not typically used for this purpose, as it is mainly employed to join two or more words serving as a single modifier before a noun.