History Main / BoldINFLATION

* [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} POKéMON]]:
** Originally, [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} POKéMON]][[note]]For those wondering why the é in [=POKéMON=] is left uncapitalized, it's because the font the games use leaves no room for an accent mark over a capital E.[[/note]] games wrote the names of every proper noun in all caps. In other words, you play as a [=POKéMON=] TRAINER in the KANTO, JOHTO, or HOENN region on a quest to get every BADGE from every GYM LEADER and eventually take on the ELITE FOUR, having to go through the likes of TEAM ROCKET, TEAM AQUA, or TEAM MAGMA on the way. Diamond and Pearl ended this practice, but their generation still capitalized the names of individual Pokémon due to backward compatibility with the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance games, which use the old method of capitalization (for example, Diamond and Pearl would still say PIKACHU instead of Pikachu, but would say Town Map instead of TOWN MAP). Black and White did away with this as well, meaning no more ALL CAPS at all (for example, a pre-release screenshot of the starter selection refers to the fire starter as Tepig instead of TEPIG, and battle screenshots are similarly capitalized).

** If one of these Pokemon get transferred to the Pokemon Bank, the bank will un-bold the name.
** ''Pokémon Omega Ruby'' and ''Pokémon Alpha Sapphire'' use this as a MythologyGag in the game's intro, where PROF. BIRCH uses the old style of POKéMON capitalization when the player character is watching his monologue on the [=POKéNAV=]. The rest of the game uses proper capitalization like ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', however.
** In POKéMON EMERALD, the enemy TRAINERS in the BATTLE FRONTIER SPEAK IN TERSE PHRASES IN ALL CAPS, complete with NoPunctuationPeriod much like ''SelfDemonstrating/PokemonVietnameseCrystal'' below.

* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in Creator/GarthEnnis' ''ComicBook/TheBoys''.
* ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'s and Franchise/SpiderMan's foe The Rose, son of Kingpin, had a henchgirl, Delilah whose power, apparently, was to randomly speak in a different font. And throw tanks. What would happen if she met ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}? The [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Universe]] would [[NegativeSpaceWedgie ex]][[EarthShatteringKaboom plode]].
* Comic book author JamesRobinson has a tendency to place emphasis on words that really shouldn't have it.
* In a ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' story reprinted in "Batman in the Fifties," Bats and Robin reminisced about the various '''Batarangs''' they'd used over the years, all while keeping us in suspense about what '''Batarang X''' was. This meant that the word "'''Batarang'''" appeared multiple times in nearly every panel. Every use of the word '''batarang''' in this story filled with '''batarangs''' as it discussed every '''batarang''' ever used since the invention of '''batarangs''' leading up to the introduction of a new '''batarang''' bolded every use of the word '''batarang''' until you want to kill all the writers with '''batarangs''' and never want to hear the word '''batarang''' again in your life. (If anything, that last sentence is a ''gross understatement'' of what it's like.)
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' stories of the era were no different. Basically, if it's a proper name, or if it involves the word "super" in any way, it gets bolded.

* An issue of ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' had a scene lampshading this. ComicBook/DoctorDoom was being escorted through an airport by two American security agents, one of whom was Comicbook/CaptainAmerica in disguise. Dr. Doom threatens the two agents and [[ThirdPersonPerson refers to himself in the third person]], with DOCTOR DOOM stylized. Cap asks, "How do you do that... [[PaintingTheMedium talk in all]] capitals like [[MediumAwareness that]]?"

* Comics writer Creator/GeoffJohns (''Franchise/TheFlash'', ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'', ''Franchise/GreenLantern'') has a tendency to place the emphasis on words at odd places in a sentence for no apparent reason. It's not that bad, but it does make one scratch their head from time to time. The same goes for Creator/FrankMiller.
* Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}}'s [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and Throg (Frog-Thor) speak in a different text, due to them being Gods. Interestingly, ComicBook/{{Ares|Marvel}} doesn't. The Asgardian font is meant to represent the All-Tongue. Asgardians do not speak English or any other Earthly language, but rather a magical language that can be understood by all people, and that is what the font (and archaic phrasing) is meant to show. However, some letterers/writers sometimes apply the font to Asgardian characters who should not be speaking the All-Tongue at that time, such as the addition of ComicBook/{{Angela|AsgardsAssassin}}.

* ''PC Magazine'' columnist [[http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,1103,00.asp John C. Dvorak]] randomly scatters bolding throughout his technology columns.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' does this to give you hints on one late-game puzzle. You have to insert a series of keys to progress, and if you put in the wrong sequence, you get the message "perhaps if you '''con'''cen'''tra'''te a little harder, you'll figure it out." Sure enough [[spoiler:said sequence is the Konami Code.]]

* Arcturus Mengsk in ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' and ''VideoGame/StarCraftII''. Though it doesn't show up in subtitles, you can ''hear'' it in every other word he says.

* Taking after video game inspirations, in ''[[Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures MS PAINT ADVENTURES]]'', during the [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=001904 INTRODUCTION]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002212 OF A]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=003894 NEW CHARACTER]] a number of IMPORTANT KEYWORDS, including their NAME, will be ENTIRELY CAPITALIZED. This does not happen during normal narration, save for certain game jargon such as the STRIFE SPECIBUS. On rare occasion simply used for emphasis of a phrase.

** '''[[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk HULK]] TALK LOUD ON [[SelfDemonstrating/TheIncredibleHulk HIS PAGE]]!!!!!! LOTS OF BIG LETTERS AND SHOUTING!!!!!!! ''GRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!'''''

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'': The ''massive'' [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/HERO HERO]] archetype has its namesake capitalized throughout its many sub-archetypes: 'Elemental HERO', 'Destiny HERO', 'Masked HERO', and so on. In fact, several monsters had to have their carts reprinted just to have part of their name capitalized from 'Hero' to 'HERO'. To take this even further, cards like [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Oscillo_Hero Oscillo Hero]] are ''not'' part of the archetype simply because the name isn't in all caps. This was done in part to distinguish "HERO" from the "Heroic" archetype that came out shortly after the renaming, and also to make clear that some cards could affect ''all'' "HERO" cards without having to label each distinct sub-group on the card text. (Prior to the renaming, cards would have to specify they affected "Elemental Hero", "Destiny Hero", "Evil Hero", or what have you by the full name each time, eating up a lot of text-box space.)

* Taking after video game inspirations, in ''[[Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures MS PAINT ADVENTURES]]'', during the [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=001904 INTRODUCTION]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002212 OF A]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=003894 NEW CHARACTER]] a number of IMPORTANT KEYWORDS, including their NAME, will be ENTIRELY CAPITALIZED. This does not happen during normal narration, save for certain game jargon such as the [[WeaponOfChoice STRIFE SPECIBUS]]. On rare occasion simply used for emphasis of a phrase.

** Any time we mention [[Creator/BrianBlessed BRIAN BLESSED]] or [[Franchise/{{Disgaea}} Captain Gordon, Defender of Earth!]].

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'': The ad copy for Wiki/{{SCP|Foundation}}-[[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1657 1657]]:

** '''[[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk HULK]] TALK LOUD ON [[SelfDemonstrating/TheIncredibleHulk HIS PAGE]]!!!!!! LOTS OF BIG LETTERS AND SHOUTING!!!!!!! ''GRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!'''''

May be a subtrope of PaintingTheMedium. Inversion of CreepyMonotone. See also {{Pothole}} for a related phenomenon on [[Wiki/TVTropes This Very Wiki]].

* The page on [[Wiki/TVTropes This Very Wiki]], the manga, and the anime for ''Manga/TegamiBachiLetterBee'' all emphasize Heart, because HeartIsAnAwesomePower.

* [[Wiki/TVTropes Repeatedly Used On This Very Wiki]], especially when I Am Not Making This Up is invoked. Articles that use Bold Inflation:

* Naturally, above-the-fold headlines are usually emboldened in order to indicate their importance (and to get people to buy the paper). However, there's a longstanding print tradition for the trope to be literally inverted (white text on a black background) [[UpToEleven for issues of extreme urgency or tragedy]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'': The original        [[gold:Starwalker]] loves to [[gold:emphasize]] random worlds in [[gold:gold]] and insert          odd [[gold:spaces]] as part of their WordSaladHumor.

* ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'': The original        [[gold:Starwalker]] loves to [[gold:emphasize]] random worlds in [[gold:gold]] and insert         odd [[gold:spaces]] as part of their WordSaladHumor.

In short, '''characters''' speaking with '''unusual''' emphasis in '''normal conversation'''. Back in the day the '''low quality paper''' used in '''ComicBooks''' tend to make ''italic text'' '''difficult''' to '''see''', so '''letterers''' used '''bold''', or more typically, '''''bold italic''''' text '''instead'''. Modern lettering '''evolved''' from the old conventions. Used occasionally, '''bold phrases''' can be statements of '''[[LargeHam power]]'''. '''However''', [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools in the ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools hands ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools of a ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools clumsy artist]]''', it can '''irritate''' the '''reader''' and '''discredit''' the '''character''', which is why there will be no more [[SelfDemonstratingArticle Self-Demonstration]] for the rest of the introduction.

* In the old ''ComicBook/TheTransformers'' series, whenever a character was referred to by name for the first time -- particularly during Budiansky's run as the writer, when new characters were introduced -- their names were bolded. This was possibly to make sure the reader knew who was who, with the slew of new characters that tended to appear every two issues or so -- or Budiansky's tongue-in-cheek way of sticking it to [[ExecutiveMeddling Hasbro executives]] insisting the newest toys got the spotlight.

* German translations of superhero genre comics which play the trope straight tend to keep it faithful (arguably instantly doubling the {{Narm}} level in comparison). Random case in point: some Dracula comic where our heroes boast they have stakes made from '''cantrememberthespeciesofwood''' that kill even Dracula '''forever''' (no objections to bolding here) but also sneak in the totally irrelevant info into the sentence that they '''borrowed''' them from a local '''peasant''' (in stark contrast to, whatnot, fetching it on Ebay). Dracula, impressed by all this [[IncrediblyLamePun boldness]], does a French leave to save the franchise.

In short, '''characters''' speaking with '''unusual''' emphasis in '''normal conversation'''. '''[[UsefulNotes/{{Fonts}} Typefaces]]''' used in '''ComicBooks''' tend to make ''italic type'' '''difficult''' to '''see''', so '''letterers''' use '''bold''', or more typically, '''''bold italic''''' text '''instead'''. Used occasionally, '''bold phrases''' can be statements of '''[[LargeHam power]]'''. '''However''', [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools in the ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools hands ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools of a ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools clumsy artist]]''', it can '''irritate''' the '''reader''' and '''discredit''' the '''character''', which is why there will be no more [[SelfDemonstratingArticle Self-Demonstration]] for the rest of the introduction.

In short, '''characters''' speaking with '''unusual''' emphasis in '''normal conversation'''. '''[[UsefulNotes/{{Fonts}} Typefaces]]''' used in '''ComicBooks''' tend to make ''italic type'' '''difficult''' to '''see''', so '''letterers''' use '''bold''' text '''instead'''. Used occasionally, '''bold phrases''' can be statements of '''[[LargeHam power]]'''. '''However''', [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools in the ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools hands ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools of a ]]'''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools clumsy artist]]''', it can '''irritate''' the '''reader''' and '''discredit''' the '''character''', which is why there will be no more [[SelfDemonstratingArticle Self-Demonstration]] for the rest of the introduction.

* Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}}'s [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and Throg (Frog-Thor) speak in a different text, due to them being Gods. Interestingly, ComicBook/{{Ares|Marvel}} doesn't. The Asgardian font is meant to represent the All-Tongue. Asgardians do not speak English or any other Earthly language, but rather a magical language that can be understood by all people, and that is what the font (and archaic phrasing) is meant to show. However, some letterers/writers sometimes apply the font to Asgardian characters who should not be speaking the All-Tongue at that time, such as the addition of Angela.

* Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}}'s [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and Throg (Frog-Thor) speak in a different text, due to them being Gods. Interestingly, ComicBook/{{Ares|Marvel}} doesn't. The Asgardian font is meant to represent the All-Tongue. Asgardians do not speak English or any other Earthly language, but rather a magical language that can be understood by all people, and that is what the font (and archaic phrasing) is meant to show. However, some letterers/writers sometimes apply the font to Asgardian characters who should not be speaking the All-Tongue at that time, such as the addition of ComicBook/{{Angela|MarvelComics}}.

* Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}}'s [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and Throg (Frog-Thor) speak in a different text, due to them being Gods. Interestingly, ComicBook/{{Ares}} doesn't. The Asgardian font is meant to represent the All-Tongue. Asgardians do not speak English or any other Earthly language, but rather a magical language that can be understood by all people, and that is what the font (and archaic phrasing) is meant to show. However, some letterers/writers sometimes apply the font to Asgardian characters who should not be speaking the All-Tongue at that time, such as the addition of ComicBook/{{Angela|MarvelComics}}.

* Some printings of Literature/TheBible, particularly the King James Version, use italics to denote words added by the translators that were not present in the original Greek or Hebrew (usually added to better follow English grammar and thus make it more readable). Some media use [brackets] instead. This results in the odd effect of having minor articles and prepositions "emphasized" while the key words of the text are plain. It's also not uncommon for print editions of the Bible to use red for the name of God or the word "Lord" when it refers to him.

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'': The ''massive'' [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/HERO HERO]] archetype has its namesake capitalized throughout its many sub-archetypes: 'Elemental HERO', 'Destiny HERO', 'Masked HERO', and so on. In fact, several monsters had to have their carts reprinted just to have part of their name capitalized from 'Hero' to 'HERO'. To take this even further, cards like [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Oscillo_Hero Oscillo Hero]] are ''not'' part of the archetype simply because the name isn't in all caps.

** '''[[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk HULK]] TALK LOUD ON [[SelfDemonstrating/IncredibleHulk HIS PAGE]]!!!!!! LOTS OF BIG LETTERS AND SHOUTING!!!!!!! ''GRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!'''''

* Every single comic published by Creator/ArchieComics (such as Betty, Jughead, Sonic, etc) comic uses excessive bold, often on unimportant words. Also uses the convention of exclamation points instead of periods. Apparently the people of Riverdale are constantly screaming out of rhythm. Their Sonic comic has at least gotten better about it since Ian Flynn took over writing. The rest, eh...

* The page on [[Wiki/TVTropes This Very Wiki]], the manga, and the anime for ''Manga/LetterBee'' all emphasize Heart, because HeartIsAnAwesomePower.

* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in Creator/GarthEnnis' ''Comicbook/TheBoys''.
* Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}'s and Franchise/SpiderMan's foe The Rose, son of Kingpin, had a henchgirl, Delilah whose power, apparently, was to randomly speak in a different font. And throw tanks. What would happen if she met ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}? The [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Universe]] would [[NegativeSpaceWedgie ex]][[EarthShatteringKaboom plode]].

* Inverted in ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' with Rorschach, who is only shown speaking with bold ''once'', during the "Crimebusters" flashback in chapter 2. (And if you asked him, he'd say that wasn't Rorschach: Rorschach didn't really exist yet.) Other characters describe him as speaking in a flat monotone.

* In the old ''Comicbook/TheTransformers'' series, whenever a character was referred to by name for the first time -- particularly during Budiansky's run as the writer, when new characters were introduced -- their names were bolded. This was possibly to make sure the reader knew who was who, with the slew of new characters that tended to appear every two issues or so -- or Budiansky's tongue-in-cheek way of sticking it to [[ExecutiveMeddling Hasbro executives]] insisting the newest toys got the spotlight.
* An issue of ''Comicbook/SpiderMan'' had a scene lampshading this. ComicBook/DoctorDoom was being escorted through an airport by two American security agents, one of whom was Comicbook/CaptainAmerica in disguise. Dr. Doom threatens the two agents and [[ThirdPersonPerson refers to himself in the third person]], with DOCTOR DOOM stylized. Cap asks, "How do you do that... [[PaintingTheMedium talk in all]] capitals like [[MediumAwareness that]]?"

* Characters in Adam Warren's comics -- especially in ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'' -- often use huge, bold, ''underlined'' capital letters for emphasis.

* Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}}'s [[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and Throg (Frog-Thor) speak in a different text, due to them being Gods. Interestingly, ComicBook/{{Ares}} doesn't. The Asgardian font is meant to represent the All-Tongue. Asgardians do not speak English or any other Earthly language, but rather a magical language that can be understood by all people, and that is what the font (and archaic phrasing) is meant to show. However, some letterers/writers sometimes apply the font to Asgardian characters who should not be speaking the All-Tongue at that time, such as the addition of ComicBook/{{Angela|MarvelComics}}.
* While Marvel's ''Comicbook/UltimateXMen'' is no worse of an offender than any other comic, it features at least one scene of Professor Xavier sending an email liberally sprinkled with italicized words, making him sound like a crazy person on the Internet. As well as literally fully capitalising some words. In a widely published essay. And he wonders why people still think he's insane...
* A signature of Creator/JackKirby's writing, especially during TheSeventies, and ''especially'' in [[Comicbook/NewGods the Fourth World saga]]. Unlike many examples on this page, The King's choice of emphasis usually ''does'' reflect a fairly natural (if overly ''urgent'') speech cadence.

* ''FanFic/TwilightRevised'' uses this to illustrate Twilight's unhealthy attachment to "Celestia". Twilight especially puts a lot of emphasis on '''Her'''. The ''exact'' Amount '''depends''' on her mental state.

* In ''FanFic/HopeOnADistantMountain'', if a line is bolded, that indicates it's the speaker's equivalent to Naegi's CatchPhrase from the trials: "''[[VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc You've got that wrong!]]''"

* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' stories of the era were no different. Basically, if it's a proper name, or if it involves the word "super" in any way, it gets bolded.