A writing system is a set of symbols, characters or signs that represent language in written form. It includes rules for combining these symbols to form words and sentences, as well as conventions for using punctuation, spacing, and formatting. Writing systems are used by different cultures and societies to communicate through written text, and they can vary greatly depending on the language they represent or the cultural context in which they were developed. Some examples of writing systems include alphabets (such as English), syllabaries (like Japanese katakana) and logographies (as seen in Chinese characters).