思う vs. 思っている

In my last week’s diary, I wanted to express that the “old web” was more interesting to me.

So here’s the sentence

昔のウェブはもっと面白い思う。
昔のウェブはもっと面白い思っている。

思う is meant to be more for the moment.
思っている has a longer duration for the thought, or it has been a belief.

In my case, both make sense but with a slight nuance. If I wanted to say I always thought the old web is more interesting, then 思っている would be better than 思う.

A helpful analogy I found was that 思う is like “put on,” and 思っている is like “wear.”

〜と思います and when と isn’t needed

とis used when quoting or expressing thoughts, feelings, or opinions.

It marks the content of what you’re thinking.

Examples:

• 私は明日行こうと思います。I think I will go tomorrow.
• 彼は忙しいと思います。I think he is busy.
• 正しいと思います。I think it’s correct.
• 学校に行きたくないと思います。I think I don’t want to go to school.

思います can stand alone when no specific thought or content is quoted.

• そう思います。I think so.
• 思っています。I’m thinking about it.
• 何も思いませんでした。I didn’t think about anything.