Forum:Is using "First Doctor", "Second Doctor" etc in-universe?

Are the terms "First Doctor", "Second Doctor" etc not out of universe? I've noticed on many pages that these types of names are used. Since these pages are supposed to be in-universe and these terms are out-of-universe, they shouldn't be used should they? The terms "first incarnation" etc should be used, shouldn't they? The Thirteenth Doctor 18:25, July 30, 2010 (UTC)


 * Can I please get a reply about this? The Thirteenth Doctor 13:42, August 28, 2010 (UTC)


 * Not really, though I'm sure if you looked (I think some of Terrance Dicks' novels do use the term, I think it's used in The Eight Doctors) there's probably more out there.
 * First Doctor, like Romana II is a term of convenience and brevity.
 * First incarnation is preferable, though 'First Doctor' is sometimes a useful though its in-universe credentials are somewhat questionable. --Tangerineduel 13:59, August 28, 2010 (UTC)

I may be wrong, but I think the Timelords did refer to the Doctors as First Doctor, Second Doctor, and Third Doctor in The Three Doctors. Doesn't that make it in-universe.--Icecreamdif 22:14, August 30, 2010 (UTC)
 * The terms themselves might be considered marginally in-universe (most recently, the Eleventh Doctor pointed to himself and said "Eleventh,") but in common descriptions the terms are just not stylistically used. Someone in-universe, under normal circumstances, would just be calling him "the Doctor," just as someone referring to you today would probably just say "Icecreamdif" rather than "(your current age)-year-old Icecreamdif." In-universe, the Doctor is the Doctor is the Doctor, etc. The rule tends to be bent only where absolutely necessary. Rob T Firefly 22:42, August 30, 2010 (UTC)


 * Even in the Five Doctors, didn't they simply ask each other which regeneration they were on, not which Doctor? And the eleventh's saying eleventh could have also referred to eleventh face, eleventh incarnation, eleventh body... etc, and not necessary eleventh Doctor. --The Thirteenth Doctor 11:55, August 31, 2010 (UTC)