When a character thinks, are you supposed to put quotation marks around it?
By no means an authority on the correct answer.
Based on various fictional stories I’ve read, I’d say the vast majority of writers do use the quote marks if the thoughts pertain to something the character might say or wish to say.
Otherwise, I’ve seen various devices to indicate thoughts of a character.
There are those novels and stories where not the first quote marks appear, and there’s plenty of dialog, too.
For my money, using the dramatist’s trick of showing speaker’s name followed by a colon, is the easiest to keep track of.
The constant “he said” or “she said” insertions border on nuisances, and those writers who drop their use are doing the reader a service IMO.
As for a character’s thoughts, I’ve often seen those italicized, or even shown in a separate font/typeface.
As said earlier, I’m no expert.
curly chick thought so
or
“Yes” thought curly chick
Depends on the context.
If you are describing the character’s thoughts, then no.
If you are reporting the thoughts, yes.
It’s a matter of personal preference. I usually put quotation marks around thoughts, but iirc in the battletech line books, thoughts are without quotation marks, but in italics.
I thought that I agreed with curly chick.
I thought, “I agree with curly chick.”
To paraphrase: When it is a general type of thought - then no quotation marks. When it is a specific statement - then use quotation marks.
TV