Anomalous x-ray thermal diffuse scattering (TDS) from the paraelectric BaTiO3 has been measured as a function of temperature using synchrotron radiation. Sheets of intensities that were previously reported have been confirmed. The origin of the observed TDS intensities is attributed to the soft on-(100) TA modes and overdamped [010]TO mode for reduced wave vector q>0.25 and <0.25, respectively. In agreement with the previous neutron inelastic scattering experiment, our results support the notion of the one-dimensionally correlated optic motion of atoms. © 1995 The American Physical Society.