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There is a colloquial type of phrasing where think functions as an adverb, similar in meaning to like. Example:

There have been people in history that overturned previous cultural paradigms. Think Nietzsche, Bloom, Lebowitz.

Is it okay to leave of after think here in writing? It looks colloquial but fine to me.

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    It's totally colloquial. It's still a verb, though. Sep 8, 2021 at 15:22
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    It's a verb in an imperative clause, with "Nietzsche, Bloom, Lebowitz" as direct object..
    – BillJ
    Sep 8, 2021 at 16:05
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    In your context, prepositionless Think X, Y, Z means X, Y, and Z are examples (of whatever the preceding text is about). It's entirely a stylistic choice whether to include of there or not. But in something like You can't keep bringing your drinking buddies home after a night down the pub! Think of the children! you can't idiomatically omit the preposition. Sep 8, 2021 at 16:29
  • @BillJ Is "think" a transitive verb here?
    – gotube
    Sep 8, 2021 at 20:08
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    "Take" can be used similarly in a conversational style to introduce an example that will be used to elaborate a point: "Many recent presidents have been elected despite losing the popular vote. Take George W. Bush. In 2000, he won the Electoral College..." "Think" is a bit different because it does not require further elaboration of the example.
    – nschneid
    Sep 9, 2021 at 17:25

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