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I've looked around the site for anything related but i couldn't find any
clues.

My take at it is that using the volitional form with と思う you're expressing
your plans in the near future as in

> 今晩は薬を飲んで早く寝ようと思います。

you think you'll take your medicine then fall asleep probably said on the same
day or even a few hours before doing the action.

whereas volitional form + と思っている you're expressing your plans probably a few
years in the future

> 来年、フルマラソンに挑戦しようと思っている。

you're thinking about taking on the challenge of a full marathon next year and
probably saying that you've been thinking of taking on the challenge is
correct too because you're still thinking, probably haven't even started
preparing for it or probably even still considering it?

I'm not really sure about this, it's just a speculation, is part of what i
said correct?
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2016-10-19T22:28:25.640
40145
2016-10-20T05:07:51.967
2016-10-20T02:18:10.540
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question
grammar nuances
Difference between volitional +と思う and volitional+ と思っている
What you said seems to agree with this page :

> <http://www.coelang.tufs.ac.jp/mt/ja/gmod/contents/explanation/066.html>
>
>   * (1) あしたは早く起きようと思います。
>

>
> ２ 意志を一定期間持ち続けている場合は、「と思っています」を使います。
>
>   * (2) 夏休みに旅行しようと思っています。  
>
>   * (3) 木村さんは留学しようと思っています。
>

  * 起きようと思います。 -- is just about right now.

  * しようと思っています。 -- is something that has been on the speaker's mind (or someone else's mind) for a while.

  

[ あの本を読もうと思いますか? ] is bad, according to a textbook [～おうと思う not allowed to be
used as a question](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/39511/16344)

But this same page from _coelang.tufs.ac.jp_ seems to say it's ok.

> (4) 木村さんは留学しようと思いますか。
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2016-10-20T02:12:25.447
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2016-10-20T05:07:51.967
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer
In my understanding...

  * ...しようと思う

"I think I will...", "I'll probably..." ( _not fully decided,_ 予想している)

  * しようと思っている

"I'm thinking of...", "I'm planning to..." ( _more-or-less decided,_ 仮に計画している)

> 留学 **しようと思います**

  * **I think I'll** study overseas.

> 留学 **しようと思っています**

  * **I'm thinking of** studying overseas.
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2016-10-20T02:48:56.340
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2016-10-20T02:48:56.340
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answer