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Welcome to the TARDIS Index File's Style guide. This guide builds upon the Manual of Style to add and explain further elements of grammar, spelling and punctuation that is used on this wiki and in general English.
Punctuation
Inverted commas or quotation marks
British standard is to put speech within single quotation marks. such as this short passage from Wetworld:
- Martha jumped as a figure appeared out of the gloom. A short, elderly Indian man, peering at her worridly. 'Where's the Doctor?'
However, it would be problematic to follow the British standard on a site powered by MediaWiki software. The single quotation mark has a meaning in wiki code that the double quotation mark does not. In this one case, therefore, we adopt the American standard of using double quotation marks. Hence, we would see this as being the "correct" punctuation of the above passage:
- Martha jumped as a figure appeared out of the gloom. A short, elderly Indian man, peering at her worridly. "Where's the Doctor?"
Spelling and usage
Some commonly misused and misspelled words are;
- there, their and they're.
- we're, were and where
- you're and your
Here's a quick and easy way to remember the different "they're, their and there":
- There - There has the word "here" in it and together with "where" are related to placing a location; "here, there, everywhere".
- They're - They're is a contraction of they are, so if it looks odd with "they're" in a sentence break it apart to be 'they are' and see if it's still looks correct.
- Their - This is about possession, it's their hair, their food, their drinks, their army etc.
We're, Were and Where
- We're is, as discussed above a contraction of "we are".
- Were is used as the past tense of are. It is used frequently on this wiki as all in-universe articles are written in the past tense.
- As noted above Where is related to location; "Where are we? They are there by the TARDIS. Here we have a dead Dalek."
Your and You're
- You're, as discussed above is a contraction of "You are".
- Your means something belongs or is connected to you.
Full usage
To show all these words written in a paragraph here is an example piece of text;
- The Doctor's TARDIS materialised on the planet Skaro. "The Dalek's home world." The Doctor said ominously to his companions.
- "I don't like it here." Tegan said tucking her hands into the coat.
- "You should've worn a more appropriate coat, I did warn you." The Doctor said, seemingly unaffected by the cold.
- "You said there was a breeze, it's a nuclear winter!" Tegan said, her teeth chattering.
- "Now that we're here, there's nothing I can do Tegan, especially since they're likely already watching." :The Doctor said, looking around with a pair of opera glasses.
- "They? The Daleks?" Turlough said, pulling up the hood of his coat against the breeze.
- "The Thals. It is their planet too." The Doctor removed what looked like a watch from his pocket.
- "Your piloting skills leave much to be desired, Doctor!" Tegan cried as she walked around the back of the Doctor's TARDIS. There was a sheer cliff behind them.
- "It's nothing to worry about Tegan." The Doctor paused, unrolling his hat. "As I've frequently told you, the TARDIS' HADS will take care of any…dangerous issues." He trailed off. "Ah, it looks like our arrival has been noticed."
Usage explanation
Explanations are in bold:
- The Doctor's TARDIS (this TARDIS is the Doctor's) materialised on the planet Skaro. "The Dalek's home world." (They have arrived on Skaro which is the home planet of the Daleks)' The Doctor said ominously to his companions.
- "I don't like it here." ("I do not like it here") Tegan said tucking her hands into the coat.
- "You should've worn a more appropriate coat, I did warn you." ("You should have worn…") The Doctor said, seemingly unaffected by the cold.
- "You said there was a breeze, it's a nuclear winter!" Tegan said, her teeth chattering. (it is a nuclear winter)
- "Now that we're here, there's nothing I can do Tegan, especially since they're likely already watching." (Now that we are here, there is nothing I can do Tegan, especially since they are likely…) The Doctor said, looking around with a pair of opera glasses.
- "They? The Daleks?" Turlough said, pulling up the hood of his coat against the breeze.
- "The Thals. It is their planet too." (The planet is the Thals') The Doctor removed what looked like a watch from his pocket.
- "Your piloting skills leave much to be desired, Doctor!" Tegan cried as she walked around the back of the Doctor's TARDIS. There was a sheer cliff behind them.
- "It's nothing to worry about Tegan." The Doctor paused, unrolling his hat. "As I've frequently told you, the TARDIS' HADS will take care of any…dangerous issues." He trailed off. "Ah, it looks like our arrival has been noticed. ("It is nothing to worry about Tegan." …"As I have frequently told you, the TARDIS' HADS will take care of any…dangerous issues" The HADS are the part of the TARDIS)