Write down my thoughts or write my thoughts down?

[Frenger]

...Or any other phrasal verb consisting of two parts.

I write down my thoughts daily.
I write my thoughts down daily.

I've seen both versions - could someone please tell me, which one is more preferable?

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

I've said each one to myself several times, but I still can't decide which one I prefer. Both are perfectly fine. Just flip a coin or something.

[Frenger]

Thanks for your opinion! It indeed is hard to decide. What do others think?

[5jj]

Thanks for your opinion! It indeed is hard to decide. What do others think?

SlickVic's post has been 'liked' by several people. That suggests that we agree with him. I do.

[TheParser]

What do others think?

NOT A TEACHER


(1) Okey-doke!

(2) I have been thinking hard about your question, and I have decided that if I were

forced to choose one, I should/would choose:

I write my thoughts down daily.

(a) Why? I really do not know, but here are a few random thoughts:

(i) In "I write down my thoughts daily," I find that the word "down" gets too much

stress/emphasis when I say that sentence out loud.

(ii) In "I write my thoughts down daily," the sentence comes out of my mouth

more smoothly and "naturally."

(iii) Also, maybe I am accustomed to hearing this phrasal verb separated, for it

is often used with a pronoun:

Employee: I have a good idea for our company.

Boss: Write it down! Write it down!

[Walt Whitman]

English teacher

I just want to add what we were/are taught at school (I have no idea if the rule is strictly followed by native speakers).
With phrasal verbs, adverb particles can go either before or after noun objects.
I switched on the light and saw him sleeping on the sofa. / I switched the light on and...
But: I switch it (the light) on and... / I write them (my thoughts) down daily.
This means that adverb particles can only go after pronoun objects: I switch on it. (NO) / I write down them daily. (NO)
Hope it is right and helps.
WW