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Pedants' corner

Think

3 replies

samarrange · 27/08/2025 18:57

I just saw this in a post on a trending thread ("Have you ever known someone who committed a serious crime"):

"A relative of mine threatened arson, and was jailed for two years.
He was experiencing severe work-related stress (think, national-emergency level), and he lived alone and was largely coping with it alone."

To me, this usage of "think" is fine, because the writer is giving us an example that is not the actual case. "I can't tell you exactly, but here's an idea". Fine.

Where I start shouting uncontrollably at my phone draw the line is when writers, often people puffing a product, use "Think" to introduce a list of things that are just things. Something like "This hotel has everything you could want — think heated pool, swim-up bar, giant bathrobes, and free chocolate in the mini-bar". I don't need to "think" of those. What you mean is "For example" or "Such as".

OP posts:
BrickBiscuit · 27/08/2025 19:32

@samarrange "(think, national-emergency level)"

They should not have used a comma.

Mydadsbirthday · 28/08/2025 13:26

I agree with you OP, it's a really irritating writing style employed by "travel influencers" etc.

samarrange · 28/08/2025 22:53

BrickBiscuit · 27/08/2025 19:32

@samarrange "(think, national-emergency level)"

They should not have used a comma.

Harsh but fair.

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