Think in this way

[Kirja]

I always thought one could say only "think this way" and that the preposition "in" wasn't necessary. That was until I saw this sentence in a book: If people are thinking this way, nobody feels like working or laughing very much. So is it necessary or not?

 

[natkretep]

Sorry, Kirja, I don't know what your problem is. The sentence you quote does not use the preposition in either and is another example of think this way.

 

[Kirja]

Oh, oopsss!!! It should have been think IN this way. Sorry, I'm so used to saying this way!!

 

[natkretep]

Both versions sound fine to me though I think the version without the preposition is more common.

From COCA*
61 instances of think this way
10 instances of think in this way

From BNC**
8 instances of think this way
2 instances of think in this way

*Corpus of Contemporary American English
**British National Corpus

 

[Kirja]

Thanks !!

 

[bwuw]

Hi,
What if we add an object between "think" and "that way"? I'd say that we need to add the preposition, but I'm not sure. An example:

Many people think about Christmas in that way.

Could "in" be omitted here?
Thanks,
B

 

[natkretep]

I think in can still be omitted, but, yes, interposing a prepositional phrase would probably discourage its omission somewhat.