punctuate vs set off

punctuate and set off both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
punctuate	No	No	Yes	No
set off	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, set off is a hyponym of punctuate; that is, set off is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than punctuate:

punctuate (verb)	set off (verb)
insert punctuation marks into	cause to burst with a violent release of energy
interrupt periodically	set in motion or cause to begin
to stress, single out as important	direct attention to, as if by means of contrast
	provoke or stir up
	put in motion or move to act
	depart for someplace
	make up for