History Main / ThinkInText

Think in Text is, therefore, a distinctive subtrope of PaintingTheMedium and sister trope of TranslationConvention mixed with UnconventionalFormatting. It's very closely related to InnerMonologue in some way, as well, especially when its tricks have been used there.

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!Sectional Divide and Conquer

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!Thinking With the Typeset

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!Psychologically Abusing Punctuation

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!...And Hypertext

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Say hello to non-standard punctuation as the second-most popular method. This --on the surface-- often looks like a case of WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma. Um... Well... Err... To be truthful... [[NecessaryWeasel It actually, mostly is]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools But, it's all in a good cause!]] [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality Honest!]]

Say hello to non-standard punctuation as the second-most popular method. This --on the surface-- often looks like a case of WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma. Um... Well... Err... To be truthful... [[NecessaryWeasel It actually, mostly is]]. [[TropesAreTools But, it's all in a good cause!]] [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality Honest!]]

Italics lend themselves to Think in Text because, well, ''just look at them''. Not as substantial-looking as normal type, are they? Also, their go-faster, slanty-look just lends itself to thoughts.

ComicBooks have their own little quirk when it comes to punctuation: the breath mark (note, not the same as similar-named creations in musical notation or the various diacritical marks used in Ancient Greek Poetry as hints). This breath mark is a triple-lined bit of punctuation, rather than some take on a comma, apostrophe or letter, something like ⚞this⚟.[[note]]Sadly, although these're included in the Unicode fontset, the fonts on your computer probably don't show them well. For this example, say thank you to [[http://www.blambot.com/grammar.shtml Blambot.]][[/note]] More commonly used for sighs, coughs and whispers, breath marks can and do lend themselves to the occasional thought, whatever balloon they find themselves in.

Another common tactic is this: if a work usually uses "double-quotes" for standard dialogue, the author might then switches 'to single' in thought-dialogue. Or, vice versa. If the author wants to sneak telepathy on you for a [[FridgeBrilliance fridge moment]], this might well be what they're using to do it. Because of this handy, but low-impact nature, though, it can be ''very'' easily missed as a cue by speed readers.

So predominant is the italic option, it's become a convention! Listing all the examples of works that use standard dialogue, ''but, in italics'', would take forever. [[ShmuckBait So please, don't start even thinking about it.]][[note]]Betcha you did--and you've come up with three already, with more on the way, right?[[/note]]

Occasionally, some form of pop-up, [[AltText hover text]], widget or link is thrown in as an extra to the "normal" sentence, showing a character's true inner thoughts on a subject. Something no other medium can do. FootnoteFever truely shines in hypertext[[note]]You might have spotted that...[[/note]].

Standard dialogue with "s/he thought" tacked on just gets... repetitive when it happens often. Even if the author has done a really good job trying to avoid it by hitting ''Roget's Thesaurus'' hard for inspiration. The problem is, it hardly stands out from ordinary dialogue. Hence, this trope happened as a shorthand. Or, just a break from boredom.

So, if a writer wants to avoid the italic, he can play other games with the text[[note]]He can hit on something no easier to read than the italic option, though.[[/note]]. These may include: RainbowSpeak, fading the text slightly, changing the font size or using a different font entirely. This is always limited by the print options in a given medium, of course. Comics and manga love these options, for some reason.

Say hello to non-standard punctuation as the second-most popular method. This--on the surface--often looks like a case of WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma. Um... Well... Err... To be truthful... [[NecessaryWeasel It actually is]]. [[TropesAreTools But, it's all in a good cause!]] [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality Honest!]]

Another common tactic is this: if a work usually uses "double-quotes," the author then switches 'to single' in thought-dialogue. Or vice versa. If the author wants to sneak telepathy on you for a [[FridgeBrilliance fridge moment]], this might well be what they're using to do it. Because of this handy low-impact nature, though, it can be very easily missed as a cue by speed readers.

Mixing both italics and non-standard punctuation very definitely happens. As long as the author is consistent in where and when he uses what, it's hardly a problem. It's all a matter of style, taste and the subtext.

Occasionally, some form of pop-up, [[AltText hover text]], widget or link is thrown in as an extra to the "normal" sentence, showing a character's true inner thoughts on a subject. Something no other medium can do.

This trope is closed to examples, but open to discussion when you find a distinctive method that merits inclusion. Should you feel a work needs mention of Think in Text's use, please use that work's page of tropes instead.

A common problem faced by many writers is how to convey thought or telepathic "speech" in text. After all, the written word doesn't lend itself to all those convenient editing tricks used in voice-overs for film, music or radio. Yes, that famous [[RadioVoice slightly hollow sound]] is the one we're thinking of, here.

ComicBooks have their own little quirk when it comes to punctuation: the breath mark (note, not the same as similar-named creations in musical notation or the various diacritical marks used in Ancient Greek Poetry as hints). This breath mark is a triple-lined bit of punctuation, rather than some take on a comma, apostrophe or letter.[[note]]Sadly, these're not included in the Unicode fontset, or we'd insert them here. For this example, say thank you to [[http://www.blambot.com/grammar.shtml Blambot.]][[/note]] More commonly used for sighs, coughs and whispers, breath marks can and do lend themselves to the occasional thought, whatever balloon they find themselves in.

But, as in all things, just using a single method is not to everybody's taste. Some like to hold the quotation marks and just go with the italics. Others mix and match what they use, when, depending whether a character is just thinking, inner monologuing or actively broadcasting telegraphically. Done well, this can really work and blends into the background.

However, this very look makes them difficult to read, sometimes, though. This is the main reason why comics and manga try to avoid this if it is at all possible and usually play with their bubbles instead. See BoldInflation, SpeechBubble, ThoughtBubble and ThoughtCaption for related tropes.

'''Bold occasionally happens, but it's incredibly rare.''' As are the practically endangered [[AC:Small Caps]] and underline. [[BuffySpeak Clunky-shouty]]. Italics[[note]]And practically anything else, probably.[[/note]] just look more "thinky" than they do.

Say hello to non-standard punctuation as the second most popular method. This--on the surface--often looks like a case of WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma. Um... Well... Err... To be truthful... [[NecessaryWeasel It actually is]]. [[TropesAreTools But, it's all in a good cause!]] [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality Honest!]]

Another common tactic is this: if a work usually uses "double-quotes", the author then switches 'to single' in thought-dialogue. Or vice versa. If the author wants to sneak telepathy on you for a [[FridgeBrilliance fridge moment]], this might well be what they're using to do it. Because of this handy low-impact nature, though, it can be very easily missed as a cue by speed readers.

> Other ways can have have more oomph.\\

Some people like to use exaggerated indentation, non-standard paragraph spacing, sub-sectional divides, innovative tabbing and word-spacing, or quote-like block-text[[note]]And, never forget the thoughtfully provided FootnoteFever.[[/note]]. Colouring or greying the background is optional, as is framing, as well. Bullets? Have been spotted, but they're not that common at all.

You have to admit, however space-hungry these may be, they certainly mirror how thoughts aren't exactly pinned to the ground. These can give a distinctive look that can actually reach artwork levels at times, but which mostly hints at inserts from articles or another medium. However, if slightly overblown, these can become very difficult to read. Particularly when colouring the background. It all depends on the author.

This trope is closed to examples, but open to discussion when you find a distinctive method that merits inclusion. Should you feel a work needs mention of Think in Text's use, please use that work's page of tropes, instead.

So predominant is the italic option, it's become a convention! Listing all the examples of works that use standard dialogue, ''but, in italics'', would take forever. [[ShmuckBait So please, don't start even thinking about it.]][[hottip:*:Betcha you did--and you've come up with three already, with more on the way, right?]]

So, if a writer wants to avoid the italic, he can play other games with the text[[hottip:*:He can hit on something no easier to read than the italic option, though.]]. These may include: RainbowSpeak, fading the text slightly, changing the font size or using a different font entirely. This is always limited by the print options in a given medium, of course. Comics and manga love these options, for some reason.

'''Bold occasionally happens, but it's incredibly rare.''' As are the practically endangered [[AC:Small Caps]] and underline. [[BuffySpeak Clunky-shouty]]. Italics[[hottip:*:And practically anything else, probably.]] just look more "thinky" than they do.

ComicBooks have their own little quirk when it comes to punctuation: the breath mark (note, not the same as similar-named creations in musical notation or the various diacritical marks used in Ancient Greek Poetry as hints). This breath mark is a triple-lined bit of punctuation, rather than some take on a comma, apostrophe or letter.[[hottip:*:Sadly, these're not included in the Unicode fontset, or we'd insert them here. For this example, say thank you to [[http://www.blambot.com/grammar.shtml Blambot.]] More commonly used for sighs, coughs and whispers, breath marks can and do lend themselves to the occasional thought, whatever balloon they find themselves in.

Some people like to use exaggerated indentation, non-standard paragraph spacing, sub-sectional divides, innovative tabbing and word-spacing, or quote-like block-text[[hottip:*: And, never forget the thoughtfully provided FootnoteFever.]]. Colouring or greying the background is optional, as is framing, as well. Bullets? Have been spotted, but they're not that common at all.

Several ways to use the textual paint palette have had to evolve for the thunken word. And, here they are.

Several ways to use the fourth wall paint palette have had to evolve for the thunken word. And, here they are.

Italics lend themselves to Think in Text because, well, ''just look at them''. Not so substantial-looking as normal type, are they? Also, their go-faster, slanty-look just lends itself to thoughts.

ComicBooks have their own little quirk when it comes to punctuation: the breath mark (note, not the same as similar-named creations in musical notation or the various diacritical marks used in Ancient Greek Poetry as hints). This breath mark is a triple-lined bit of punctuation, rather than some take on a comma, apostrophe or letter.[[hottip:*:Sadly, these're not included in the Unicode fontset, or we'd insert them here. Say thank you to [[http://www.blambot.com/grammar.shtml Blambot]] for showing you, instead.]] More commonly used for sighs, coughs and whispers, breath marks can and do lend themselves to the occasional thought, whatever balloon they find themselves in.

Think in Text is, therefore, a distinctive subtrope of PaintingTheFourthWall and sister trope of TranslationConvention mixed with UnconventionalFormatting. It's very closely related to InnerMonologue in some way, as well, especially when its tricks have been used there.

Say hello to non-standard punctuation as the second most popular method. This==on the surface--often looks like a case of WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma. Um... Well... Err... To be truthful... [[NecessaryWeasel It actually is]]. [[TropesAreTools But, it's all in a good cause!]] [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality Honest!]]

Think in Text is, therefore, a distinctive subtrope of PaintingTheFourthWall and sister trope of TranslationConvention. It's very closely related to InnerMonologue in some way, as well, especially when its tricks have been used there.

Standard dialogue with "s/he thought" tacked on just gets... repetitive when you're faced with lot of it. Even if the author has done a really good job trying to avoid it by hitting ''Roget's Thesaurus'' hard for inspiration. The problem is, it hardly stands out from ordinary dialogue. Hence, this trope happened as a shorthand. Or, just a break from boredom.

ThinkInText is, therefore, a distinctive subtrope of PaintingTheFourthWall and sister-trope of TranslationConvention. And, is very closely related to InnerMonologue in some way, as well, especially when its tricks have been used there.

Several ways to use the fourth wall paint pallet have had to evolve for the thunken word. And, here they are.

!Thinking With The Typeset

So predominant is the italic option, it's become a convention! Listing all the examples of works that use standard dialogue, ''but, in italics'', would take forever. [[ShmuckBait So please, don't start even thinking about it.]][[hottip:*:Betcha you did – and you've came up with 3 already, with more on the way, right?]]

Italics lend themselves to ThinkInText because, well, ''just look at them''. Not as substantial-looking as normal type, are they? Also, their go-faster, slanty-look just lends itself to thoughts.

So, if a writer wants to avoid the italic, they can play other games with the text[[hottip:*:They can hit on something no more easy to read than the italic option, though.]]. These may include: RainbowSpeak, fading the text slightly, changing the font-size or using a totally different font entirely. This is always limited by the print options in a given medium, of course. Comics and manga love these options, for some reason.

Say hello to non-standard punctuation as the second most popular method. This – on the surface – often looks like a case of WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma. Um... Well... Err... To be truthful... [[NecessaryWeasel It actually is]]. [[TropesAreTools But, it's all in a good cause!]] [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality Honest]]!

Another common tactic is this: if a work usually uses "double-quotes", they then switch 'to single' in thought-dialogue. Or visa versa. If the author wants to sneak telepathy on you for a [[FridgeBrilliance fridge moment]], this might well be what they're using to do it. Because of this handy low-impact nature, though, it can be very easily missed as a cue by speed readers.

Comic Books have their own little quirk when it comes to punctuation: the breath mark (note, not the same as similar-named creations in musical notation or the various diacritical marks used in Ancient Greek Poetry as hints). This breath mark is a triple-lined bit of punctuation, rather than some take on a comma, apostrophe or letter.[[hottip:*:Sadly, these're not included in the unicode fontset, or we'd insert them here. Say thank you to [[http://www.blambot.com/grammar.shtml Blambot]] for showing you, instead.]] More commonly used for sighs, coughs and whispers, breath marks can and do lend themselves to the occasional thought, whatever balloon they find themselves in.

Mixing both italics and non-standard punctuation very definitely happens. As long as the author is consistent in where and when they use what, it's hardly a problem. It's all a matter of style, taste and the subtext.

See also: MindOverMatter, PsychicPowers, PsychicLink, {{Technopath}} and SpeculativeFiction for times when you'll see this trope in action. Note: Speculative Fiction is not the only area you'll find it in, but it's more likely to crop up there.

This trope is closed to examples, but open to discussion when you find a distinctive method that merits inclusion. Should you feel a work needs mention of ThinkInText's use, please use that work's page of tropes, instead.