this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2023
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Well in English, when you want to pluralize something it depends on the type of word and its roots. But for acronyms and abbreviations you just slap an S on the end. Unless the word ends in an s in which case you slap es on the end. So presumably it would just be TARDISes.
Consequently, that explanation also answers the second point.
I mean... It could just as easily be that TARDIS is both the singular and plural form. Like sheep or fish.
If it were a word on its own, sure, but it's been repeatedly shown to be an acronym and in English we pluralize them but also treat all acronyms as if they're singular unless an s is added. That and sheep/fish are exceptions to the rule, not so much the rule itself.
Did you know fishes is an acceptable way to pluralize fish? Like, not acceptable to me, but is apparently agreed upon in language? Sounds so fucking bizarre... especially as a dude from an island obsessed with fish.
There is actually a meme I've seen showing that fish and fishes are used to separate species. A group of a single species of fish is "a school of fish" but if there is a group of multiple species of fish, then it becomes acceptable to say "a school of fishes."
Not sure how true that is, but it sounds reasonable to me.