Alexios
"I thought" or "thought I" ? Which one is better? "Isn't it weird?" I thought or "Isn't it weird?" thought I "Have I gone crazy?" I thought or "Have I gone crazy?" thought I I want it to be really dramatic Thanks in advance
Jan 20, 2022 11:49 AM
Answers · 4
1
"Thought I" is an unusual word order. The word order is used to draw attention. It's sometimes used by poets or songwriters to fit the rhyme or the pattern. But it isn't often used with the word "thought." It's more common in the phrase "said I." Even then, it is not common. I don't think it works well for you in these examples. In general, playing with word order is an expert maneuver used by writers with a high level of English mastery. Maybe you can get your drama in another way. "I felt as if I were inside an animated cartoon. Everything seemed to be too bright, too sharp-edged, and moving in a jerky way. I wondered if I was going crazy."
January 20, 2022
If you quote, both word orders are correct. The complication is that we don’t usually quote our thoughts. We’d normally just say ‘I thought it was weird’ or ‘I thought I had gone crazy.’ Your suggestions are good at increasing the drama, though, and in some contexts both word orders could work. Here the reversal ‘thought I’ seems maybe a little too jarring and it’s best to keep the normal order.
January 20, 2022
I thought
January 20, 2022
First one
January 20, 2022
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