As in any genre of subgenre with a large fandom, there are a wide variety of terms used to describe aspects of the subject which are external to the subject itself. Star Trek is no exception—indeed, it is an exemplary case study in this phenomenon.
- Apocrypha
- Official, licensed or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon. Works such as preliminary designs or drafts, as well as official technical manuals, series "bibles", novels, fan films and "Making of..." books, videos, articles and interviews are prime examples of Star Trek apocrypha.
- Canon
- In literary terms, a group of works judged to be the authentic original works of an author. In the case of Star Trek, the term is applied to the television shows and movies produced by Norway Productions and the Star Trek offices of Paramount Pictures. These include Star Trek: Enterprise; Classic Star Trek(a.k.a. Star Trek, the Original Series); Star Trek, the Animated Series; Star Trek, The Next Generation; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Star Trek: Voyager; Star Trek: Discovery; Star Trek: Picard; Star Trek: Lower Decks and the thirteen Star Trek movies. These works form the basis for the "official continuities" of the series. Canon may be revised from time to time—Star Trek, the Animated Series was for several decades excluded from canon but is now included by Paramount. Canon does not include any licensed products such as the technical manuals, novels, comics and games, nor does it include any fan-produced materials. This page is not canon, but it does strive to be consistent with canon.
- Canon Head
- A term for a fan who insists on strict canon and who tends to deride or reject any non-canon or apocryphal information. Not to be confused with Head Canon. Often used in a derogatory sense, but sometimes as a badge of honour
- Head Canon
- A somewhat disingenuous term for non-canon or apocryphal information considered as valid as Canon in one's personal opinion. Sometimes synonymous with the more moderate Personal Continuity. Not to be confused with Canon Head.
- Personal Continuity
- Non-canon or apocryphal information deemed a part of a gaming campaign. May include selected aspects of such sources but reject others. In some cases, certain items of Canon may also be rejected, as with many fans' attitudes towards the three J.J. Abrams reboot Star Trek movies, Star Trek Enterprise, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine or the new Star Trek: Discovery series, which some fans consider at odds with previous canonical Star Trek productions.
- P.O.B.
- Abbreviation for Pesky Omnipotent Being. See: YAGLA.
- TARDIS
- When the interior set for a vehicle or other enclosed space cannot possibly fit into the space suggested by the exterior set, matte painting, CGI image or miniature, it is commonly said to have been TARDISed. Examples in Star Trek are the Galileo shuttlecraft from Classic Trek, and the rear compartment of the runabout in TNG's Timescape. The term is a joking reference to the British TV series Doctor Who, the title character of which had a time travel ship called the TARDIS (an acronym for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space), which was huge on the inside, but appeared from the outside to be a common British police call box, the size of a telephone booth.
- This Gaming Campaign
- The author of this gaming site indulges in his own personal quirks as regards the Personal Continuity for this RPG campaign. All items of canon are encompassed by the Star Trek Universe meta-campaign. The main timeline includes Star Trek Enterprise, Classic Star Trek, Star Trek the Motion Picture through Star Trek VI plus the opening act of Star Trek Generations, Star Trek the Next Generation through Deep Space Nine and Voyager, the remainder of Star Trek Generations through Nemesis, Star Trek Picard and the third season of Star Trek Discovery anf beyond. The first two seasons of Discovery are regarded as an alternate time loop which splits off from the main timeline after the end of Enterprise and remerges at the time of the Burn prior to Discovery season 3. The Enterprise finale episode is regarded as part of the Next Generation, and both The Animated Series and Lower Decks are Next Generation and post-Next Generation-era holodramas (TAS being for youths and LD for teena and adults). The J.J. Abrams movies are a bit more complicated. The buildup to Star Trek 2009 with regard to the Hobus supernova and destruction of Romulus, are considered to be part of the main timeline, but the Kelvin timeline movies are otherwise in a parallel universe.
- YAGLA
- Acronym for Yet Another God-Like Alien, referring to extremely powerful beings the likes of Q or Squire Trelane. Also known as P.O.B. (qv).
- YATI
- Acronym for Yet Another Trek Inconsistancy. The author sincerely hopes this to be a YATI-free zone.
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