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TARDIS Wiki Basic Grammar Guide

This is a basic guide to general grammar, punctuation and spelling that is often used on the TARDIS Wiki and in general English.

Apostrophe

The apostrophe is a very useful piece of punctuation, though it is sometimes over and under used in article titles, infoboxes and the text of articles.

An apostrophe is used in contractions and to signify possession (see below).

In this case the apostrophe signifies possession for example:

• The Doctor's TARDIS materialised
• The Dalek's creator Davros was a Kaled

In both examples the apostrophe and the S signify possession of what follows, it is the Doctor's TARDIS = the Doctor owns his TARDIS - ownership.

When used in combination with a word that ends in an S the second S can be removed.

For example:

• The TARDIS' defences.

Can be written rather than: The TARDIS's defences.

• Stevens' will was held by BOSS.

Can be written rather than Stevens's will was held by BOSS.

Use in a contraction

An apostrophe is used when a word is contracted for example:

• They're is a contraction of they are, the apostrophe is in place of the 'a'.

• We're is a contraction of we are, again the apostrophe is in place of the 'a'.

• You're is a contraction of you are, once more the apostrophe takes the place of the 'a'.

• Isn't is a contraction of is not, with the apostrophe in place of 'o', in this instance the words are moved together forming a word which is not a word outside of the contraction. This is also seen in; Shouldn't, Couldn't, Wouldn't (which are contractions of Should not, Could not and Would not).

Examples of usage

The best way to work these out is to undo the contraction and see if the sentence still makes sense.

Example: "We're never going to make it in time!" Cried Victoria.

Undoing the contraction it becomes "We are never going to make it in time!" Cried Victoria. However removing the apostrophe produces confusing results. "Were never going to make it in time!" Cried Victoria.

Another example: "You're going to want to question me." Said the Doctor.

Undoing the contraction this sentence becomes "You are going to want to question me." Said the Doctor. Once more removing the apostrophe the sentence changes to be "Your going to want to question me." Said the Doctor.

The reverse is also true for example; "Your leaders will want to question me." Said the Doctor. In this sentence the Doctor is talking to someone about their leaders. Inserting an apostrophe changes the meaning of the sentence to be confusing "You're leaders will want to question me." Said the Doctor.

Story titles with an apostrophe

A few story titles use an apostrophe in their story titles.

• The Daleks' Master Plan. The presence of the apostrophe after the S means the Master Plan is the work/ownership of several Daleks.
• Warriors' Gate, like the above, this means the Gate (in the story called the Gateway), is inhabited by/owned by more than one Warrior.
• The King's Demons, the apostrophe in this title functions in the same way as the above stories, but there is only one King, who has several demons.
• Father's Day, this is the correct rendering of the celebration for fathers, see Wikipedia:Father's Day.
• The Idiot's Lantern, like The King's Demons this has the same meaning of belonging, the "idiot" owns or has possession of the Lantern.
• Journey's End, the journey has reached its conclusion.
• Amy's Choice, in this case the "choice" is Amy's.

Spelling and Usage

Some commonly misused and misspelled words are;

• There, Their and They're.
• We're, Were and Where
• You're and You're

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)