she thought to herself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'She thought to herself' is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to describe a character's internal dialogue. For example, "She thought to herself, 'This is going to be a long day...'".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moving away, she thought to herself, "Bossy".

The New York Times

This should be a good day, she thought to herself.

The Guardian

She thought to herself, We can't stay here.

The New Yorker

While taking cover, Coons said, she thought to herself, "Maybe I'm next.

Independent

"What if he sees it, and I'm not in it?" she thought to herself.

The New York Times

"Great; I don't know what that is," Ms. Mittelholzer said she thought to herself.

The New York Times

She looked just as bad as she felt, she thought to herself.

The New York Times

And she said she thought to herself: "Now I really have to do it".

The New York Times - Tech

"Let's give it a shot," she said she thought to herself.

The New York Times

She said she thought to herself, "Finally, he's going to say something to me".

The New York Times

"Books really do have something for everyone," she thought to herself.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she thought to herself" to clearly indicate a character's internal thoughts, especially when distinguishing them from spoken dialogue or narration. This is particularly effective in fiction writing.

Common error

Avoid excessive use of "she thought to herself", as it can slow down the narrative pace. Vary your techniques for conveying a character's thoughts, such as using actions, expressions, or stream-of-consciousness writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she thought to herself" serves as a narrative device to introduce a character's internal monologue. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. The phrase functions as a transitional marker, signaling a shift from external narration to the character's private thoughts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she thought to herself" is a frequently used phrase to introduce internal monologues, predominantly found in news and media sources. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is perfectly acceptable and serves to provide insights into a character's thoughts. While grammatically correct and widely used, writers should avoid overusing it to maintain narrative pace. Alternatives like "she mused" or "she reflected" can offer variety. The phrase is considered to be of a neutral register and suitable for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in her mind, she thought

Adds emphasis to the internal nature of the thought process.

she told herself

Implies a more deliberate and perhaps persuasive internal dialogue.

she mused

A more concise way to indicate thoughtful reflection, lacking the explicit self-address.

she reflected

Similar to "mused" but emphasizes a deeper level of consideration.

internally, she reasoned

Highlights the logical aspect of her internal thought process.

she considered

Highlights the act of weighing options or ideas internally.

she contemplated

Indicates a more prolonged and serious period of thought.

she had the thought

Focuses on the occurrence of an idea rather than the act of thinking to oneself.

an idea crossed her mind

Suggests a more fleeting or sudden thought.

she imagined

Focuses on creating a mental image or scenario, rather than a verbal thought.

FAQs

How can I use "she thought to herself" in a sentence?

The phrase is used to introduce a character's internal monologue, for example, "She looked at the daunting task ahead and "she thought to herself", 'This is going to take all day.'

What can I say instead of "she thought to herself"?

You can use alternatives like "she mused", "she reflected", or "she told herself" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "she thought to herself"?

While it might seem redundant, "she thought to herself" clarifies that the thought is internal and not spoken aloud. It's a common and accepted way to convey internal monologue in writing.

What's the difference between "she thought" and "she thought to herself"?

"She thought" is a general statement about her thinking, while ""she thought to herself"" specifically indicates an internal dialogue or unspoken thought.