Robert Pattinson Answers Funny Questions About Twilight

Why do British people say “I think” before facts that are obviously true?

British English often adds “I think” or “I suppose” to statements that are clearly facts. It is not real uncertainty. It is a softening move, a way to avoid sounding too direct or too sure of yourself. British speakers use this kind of understatement often, and it’s one of the things that makes British speech feel polite, dry, and a bit reserved.

In this clip, the British actor Robert Pattinson reads a question about whether he had a baby, then says, “I don’t think you can have a baby. I think only women can do that.” He adds “I think” twice to a fact that is not really open to debate. The comedy is in the hedge: it sounds polite, careful, and very British.