The present study addressed the question of why people find it easy to distinguish their thoughts from their feelings. In three datasets, we compared the linguistic content of self-reported thoughts and feelings by using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software. Theoretical ideas proposed by Klinger led us to predict-and find-that thoughts, when compared to feelings, tend to be (1) present- or future-directed, as opposed to past-directed; (2) relatively openended and indefinite, as opposed to completed and definite; and (3) complexly contextualised. More specifically, we found that reported thoughts contain a greater percentage of (1) present- and future-tense verbs; (2) question marks and "discrepancy words" such as should, would, and could; and (3) words (such as verbs, pronouns, and prepositions) that track people's actions and changing locations. In summary, thoughts and feelings appear to have characteristic "linguistic markers" that enable lay perceivers to readily distinguish them.
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