How do you write "think'd", a contraction of "think would"? [closed]

Here's a few examples I think'd support the use of that contraction.

Found in the Corpus of Historical American English

Who do you think'd be postman from Selby here? (Northern Lights; Parker, Gilbert - Canadian Novelist; 1909)

Let's have a look at my forty, Friend Birdwell, and see what stock you think'd do best there. (Friendly Persuasion West; West, Jessamyn - American writer; 1945)

There was a dress on Queen Mary in last Sunday's Ledger that I was sayin' to Amy I thought'd look good on me. (The Show-Off; Kelly, George Edward - American playwright; 1924)

Found in the TV Corpus

How many men were at your party? Too many. How many do you think'd be capable? (Broadchurch - UK TV Series; Episode #3.3; 2017)

He was the last guy on Earth you think'd get shot to death. (Prime Suspect - USA TV Series; Great Guy, Yet: Dead ; 2011)

What do you think'd be best? (Midsomer Murders - UK TV Series; Blue Herrings; 2000)

None of these examples are Australian so it would seem to be acceptable in most of the Anglosphere.


This sounds like you want to convey the dialectical speech. My two cents is that when you are writing between quotation marks, you can play around with words AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE, as long as you're willing to accept the consequences of potential confusion.

In a story with characters, dialectical writing is great in my opinion. The reader becomes acquainted with the character(s) and learns that when that character speaks, standard English rules are broken, in the name of attempting to convey the dialect and speech mannerisms in text.

However in a short message or a heading, "think'd" would cause confusion. Regardless I believe that's exactly how that should be written to represent how people actually speak, if that's your intent.