Which of the following is the correct punctuation for this sentence: "Individuals with Type A personalities are more likely to develop coronary heart disease, CHD, than are the individuals with Type B personalities."

The correct punctuation in this instance is structured to maintain clarity and flow in the sentence, ensuring that the abbreviation for "coronary heart disease" (CHD) is presented smoothly. Using parentheses around "CHD" allows the reader to clearly recognize it as an abbreviation for the previously defined term without interrupting the main flow of the sentence.

This punctuation choice effectively integrates the abbreviation into the text, showing that it is a clarification or additional information related to coronary heart disease. The use of parentheses indicates that while CHD is important and relevant, it is secondary to the main term, thereby preserving the natural reading rhythm. Furthermore, it enhances the readability of the sentence by avoiding additional punctuation that could detract from the overall meaning.

Other punctuation styles present in the options would disrupt the clarity or flow. Quotation marks would inaccurately imply that "CHD" is a direct quote or a term being highlighted in an unusual way. Using dashes would create an unnecessary pause that separates the abbreviation too much from the main idea, making the sentence feel choppy and less coherent. Lastly, the absence of a space before the parenthesis in another option would be a formatting error that is not standard in APA style, indicating that attention to detail in professional