Tardis:Doctors

Use the ordinal number of the incarnation in front of the word Doctor, and capitalise both words, as in First Doctor, Second Doctor, and the like.

Terrance Dicks' use of this form in The Eight Doctors, World Game and various novelisations, indicates that such usage is in fact "in-universe", and thus this form is encouraged on all pages.

Of course, using this form all the time would become very repetitive for our readers. So you may certainly use other forms that use an ordinal number. Equally valid are terms like: "first self", "second body", "third incarnation", "fourth lifetime", "fifth life". In these instances, however, neither word shall be capitalised.

Why do we discourage pipe switching to the Doctor? Many of our readers will not necessarily know as much about Doctor Who as you. Therefore the phrase, "the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan" — which might clearly identify the incarnation of the Doctor to you — is not as helpful as, "the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan". The latter construction instantly identifies the incarnation without forcing the user to mouseover.

It is especially important to clarify the incarnation of the Doctor on pages where more than one Doctor is discussed.


 * Additionally, the Doctor in general ought to be referred to with singular they/them pronouns .
 * Specific incarnations are "he" or "she". If discussing past events over multiple incarnations, all of whom male, he/him pronouns can be employed.


 * Do not use constructions like "he/she" to refer to them.


 * In cases of potential confusion, you can always clarify by swapping out a pronoun for a good old noun. "The Doctor hated the Daleks, because they always escaped their grasp" — which might lead to some head scratching — can instead be written, "because they always escaped the Time Lord's grasp".