Line #102 Main/BoldInflation


1	->''"You know, Frankie, '''emphasizing''' random '''words''' does not a talented writer '''make'''!"''
2	-->-- '''Linkara''', ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'', review of ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain''
3
4	In short, '''characters''' speaking with '''unusual''' emphasis in '''normal conversation'''. Back in the day the '''low quality paper''' used in '''ComicBooks''' tended 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.
5
6	Generally a {{comic\|Books}} and {{webcomic\|s}} trope because of its print nature, though in some cases this literary atrocity has been inflicted upon the world in {{film}} and video game form. It generally looks somewhat less silly in comics than in plain text, although this may just be because readers have been used to seeing it there since UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks. So much so, some readers just [[BlahBlahBlah ignore]] it entirely. It also shows up better than italics when using cheap, low-quality printing techniques on cheap, low-quality paper.
7
8	It should be noted that this is not always the writer's fault when this happens. Oftentimes, especially in comic books, the editor will indicate to the letterer that he wants certain random words bolded, on the assumption that a reader will become bored by plain black text without any change to spice it up. Fortunately, this practice is becoming a DiscreditedTrope.
9
10	An equivalent in manga is to place dots next to the characters to emphasize a specific part of the line (like this あ'''・'''), although this is far less common than bold text in comic books.
11
12	Relatedly, the practice of using exclamation points instead of periods to end sentences, because the little dot may be considered hard to see in some printings of newspaper strips and comic books, also creates an effect of excessive emphasis for people who aren't used to it.
13
14	May be a subtrope of PaintingTheMedium. Inversion of CreepyMonotone. See also {{Pothole}} for a related phenomenon on [[Website/TVTropes This Very Wiki]].
15
16	See RainbowSpeak where the intent is merely to inform the player of a [[MacGuffin key item]] or topic for further {{d\|ialogueTree}}iscussion.
17
18	See also EmphasizeEverything. AcCENTUponTheWrongSylLABle is a very similar but distinct trope that mostly applies to spoken dialogue.
19
20	----
21	!!Examples:
22
23	[[foldercontrol]]
24
25	[[folder:Anime '''and''' Manga]]
26	* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' uses this technique when dropping plot-relevant terms. Interestingly enough, [[GreaterScopeVillain Dio Brando]] does this to his own name from Part 3-onwards, being known simply as "DIO".
27	* ''Anime/KillLaKill'' uses this at least OncePerEpisode to great effect, even BreakingTheFourthWall with its trademark '''HUGE RED BLOCK KANJI''' on occasion.
28	* The page on [[Website/TVTropes This Very Wiki]], the manga, and the anime for ''Manga/TegamiBachiLetterBee'' all emphasize Heart, because HeartIsAnAwesomePower.
29	* The manga of ''Literature/AriaTheScarletAmmo'' uses the "dot" variant ''very'' often in the Japanese version. Usually in Kinji's inner monologues, or when a character is giving {{Exposition}}.
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:'''Comic''' Books]]
33	* 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...
34	* Every single Disney comic uses also excessive bold, random emphasizing and exclamation points as sentence finishers. Especially in Duckburg.
35	%%* {{Lampshade\|Hanging}}d in Creator/GarthEnnis' ''ComicBook/TheBoys''.
36	* ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' and ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' 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 [[Characters/MarvelComicsDeadpool Deadpool]]? The [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Universe]] would [[NegativeSpaceWedgie ex]][[EarthShatteringKaboom plode]].
37	* Comic book author Creator/JamesRobinson has a tendency to place emphasis on words that really shouldn't have it.
38	* In a ''ComicBook/{{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.)
39	* ''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.
40	* 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.
41	** The only other time in which Rorschach uses bold text is [[spoiler:when he tells Doctor Manhattan to "'''DO IT!'''" shortly before Doctor Manhattan vaporises him.]]
42	* ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'': 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.
43	* An issue of ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' had a scene lampshading this. [[Characters/MarvelComicsDoctorDoom Doctor Doom]] was being escorted through an airport by two American security agents, one of whom was [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]] 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]]?"
44	* In comments in [[http://web.archive.org/web/20100726055536/http://webcomicsreview.com/examiner/issue050912/ryannorth.html this interview]], [[Webcomic/DinosaurComics Ryan North]] places the blame for this partly on comics' insistence on putting all dialog and text in ALL CAPS.
45	* Intentionally avoided in ''ComicBook/StrangersInParadise'', since Terry Moore felt it was [[WordOfGod unnecessary]] when writing for an adult audience.
46	* Characters in Adam Warren's comics -- especially in ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'' -- often use huge, bold, ''underlined'' capital letters for emphasis.
47	* Comics writer Creator/GeoffJohns (''ComicBook/TheFlash'', ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'', ''ComicBook/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.
48	* Creator/{{Marvel\|Comics}}'s [[Characters/MarvelComicsThorOdinson Thor]] and Throg (Frog-Thor) speak in a different text, due to them being Gods. Interestingly, [[Characters/MarvelComicsOlympians 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\|AsgardsAssassin}}.
49	* 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...
50	* 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.
51	* Averted in most French-Belgian comics, which mainly use bold writing for loud speaking, strong emphasis, and when it really alters the meaning of a sentence. As such, American-style bold inflation is often seen as an example of ViewersAreMorons. Use of exclamation marks and ellipsis is widespread, though.
52	* JacquesTardi bolds every proper name in his dialogue.
53	* The ''Literature/DirtyPair'' comics by Adam Warren and (occasionally) Toren Smith are drawn in a [[{{Animesque}} manga-influenced]] style, but the text has more American-style bold inflation than is usual for English translations of manga.
54	* ComicBook/ChickTracts do this a lot, too.
55	* Bill Willingham's ''Ironwood'' has a bit of a problem with this, too. Perhaps he thought the presence of boobs would distract from the irregular cadences.
56	* '''''ComicBook/{{Warrior}}''''', the '''only''' comic with '''Destrucity'''. Would you expect anything less from the Wrestling/UltimateWarrior?
57	* 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 [[{{Pun}} boldness]], does a French leave to save the franchise.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Comic '''Strips''']]
61	* ''ComicStrip/BrendaStarr'' is a major offender.
62	* ''ComicStrip/{{Buckles}}'' is an example of both this and overuse of exclamation points!
63	* In a variation, in his later years on ''ComicStrip/MandrakeTheMagician,'' Lee Falk (who wrote the strip into his 90's!) had... a great... fondness... for ellipses... And also! Sentence fragments! But Mandrake was always [[RuleOfCool awesome]] anyway. The strip's current writer doesn't seem to have these quirks.
64	* ''ComicStrip/MarkTrail'' features this almost like a full character, alongside its beautifully drawn animal pictures! Also there's something about humans punching humans in there somewhere. I dunno the details.
65	* ''ComicStrip/PearlsBeforeSwine'' once accused {{Soap Opera}}s of an oral version of this, imitated in-comic by bolding every third word. "We can do that!"
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Fan '''Works''']]
69	* Commonly used in {{fanfic}} by beginning writers, to unnecessarily stress words as part of directly transcribing their thoughts into text. It's generally considered good practice to use such things sparingly.
70	* ''Fanfic/ThoseLackingSpines'', a parody of ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' fanfic:
71	-->He was so badass [[PaintingTheMedium his font was bolded.]] "'''And now you shall learn, and you shall fear, and you shall learn to fear the wrath... of Jeffiroth!'''" he cackled maniacally.
72	* ''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.
73	* ''Fanfic/ThePezDispenserAndTheReignOfTerror'' has a bit of a problem with this.
74	* 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!]]''"
75	* The fanfiction.net version of ''Fanfic/OniGaShikuSeries'' uses bold inflation to render the BossSubtitles and LimitBreak techniques. The Archive of Our Own version instead uses imbeded images for the Boss Subtitles. The purpose is to emulate the ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'' videogame experience as much as a text-only platform can.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:'''Lit'''erature]]
79	* Edward D'Eath spoke like this to himself (with ''italics'' in place of bold) in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/MenAtArms''. This was to signify that he was an absolute nutter. "[[PaintingTheMedium He could think in ]]''[[PaintingTheMedium italics]]''. Such people need watching. Preferably from a safe distance."
80	** Similarly, in Discworld, [[PunctuatedForEmphasis multiple exclamation points]] are a sure sign of a diseased mind.
81	* The book series ''Literature/{{Fearless}}'' puts what the writer (or other member of the PowersThatBe) thinks is the most badass sentence on each page larger and in a different typeface than the rest, instantly transforming it into {{Narm}}.
82	* Creator/DorothyLSayers uses this (with italics) in several of her books to show the annoying speech patterns of certain characters. Miss Katharine Climpson, the harmless-seeming spinster turned enquiry agent in the ''Literature/LordPeterWimsey'' series of detective novels, often speaks in italics, conveying her gossipy nature. She does it in her own writing, too. This is meant to indicate her old-fashioned, Victorian outlook; overuse of underlining is often mentioned as a characteristic of Victorian women's writing, especially in letters. Characters in the ''Literature/AnneOfGreenGables'' series often do it too.
83	* One word: [[http://thesuperdictionary.tumblr.com Superdictionary]].
84	* In ''Literature/AmericanPsycho'' Patrick Bateman tends to ''emphasise'' unusual ''words'' in his ''sentences''. It's not ''exactly'' the same trope, but still ''tends'' to fit the ''spirit'' of the thing.
85	* Angie Sage, author of the ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' series, tends to bold all '''Magykal''' words. Some people find it annoying and/or condescending.
86	* Creator/JohnHodgman's ''Literature/CompleteWorldKnowledge'' books lampoon the use of this trope in their titles.
87	* The conversational style of ''Literature/TheCatcherInTheRye'' involves a lot of italics.
88	* Katherine Mansfield was another author who used this as a characterization technique. In the short story [[http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/mansfield/bliss/bliss.html#story "Bliss,"]] the character who emphasizes every other word is being a pretentious drama queen.
89	* In ''Literature/AnimalFarm'', when Napoleon rhetorically asks who is responsible for the destruction of the windmill, he gives the answer "SNOWBALL!"
90	* 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. Words spoken by Jesus are also often printed in red or put in all-caps to make the Son of God's lines stand out.
91	* ''Literature/APrayerForOwenMeany'': Owen's voice is said to be very peculiar and is rendered in all caps, which also fits his status as a MessianicArchetype.
92	* ''Literature/TheSandmanTheDreamHunters'': In the original novella, Morpheus's speech is rendered in bold text to emphasize his power.
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Live-'''Action''' TV]]
96	* Captain [[Franchise/StarTrek James]]... [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries T]]... [[Creator/WilliamShatner Kirk]]! Shatner has since said that he played him that way because real people don't have writers or every single thing they're going to say planned word for word. He wanted to sound like he was coming up with his words as he said them.
97	* ''Series/TopGear''. Jeremy Clarkson[='=]s speech is the best example of this... in the world.
98	* Putting unusual emphasis on random words? Could there be a better description of Chandler's signature mode of speech on ''Series/{{Friends}}''?
99	* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''[='=]s Barney Stinson. His use of this is Legen waitforit ''DARY''. LEGENDARY.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Print '''Media''']]
103	* 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) for issues of extreme urgency or tragedy.
104	* ''Boot'', the precursor to ''Magazine/MaximumPC'', had one of the LettersToTheEditor complain about this. It contained semi-boldfaced words and stated that the writer read the FIRST and LAST issue because they BOLDFACE every third WORD. The editor's reply was that you CAN'T win them ALL.
105	* ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' has does this constantly ever since its days as a comic book. Authors especially like emboldening nouns and adjectives! ''[[YiddishAsASecondLanguage Gratuitous Yiddish]] expressions'' will always be bold as well, schmuck!
106	* ''The Sun'' and similar disreputable UsefulNotes/BritishNewspapers ABUSE this trope CONSTANTLY so that their READERS can pick out the IMPORTANT words.
107	** Creator/RussellBrand, when dissecting an unflattering Sun article about him in his stand-up routine, drew the audience's attention to this trope. Some time afterwards, the Sun had another article about him, in which they seemingly {{lampshade\|Hanging}}d it, emboldening words such as WAS and HAD.
108	* ''PC Magazine'' columnist [[https://web.archive.org/web/20050724013539/http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,1103,00.asp John C. Dvorak]] randomly scatters bolding throughout his technology columns.
109	* The ''Plain Truth'', the house magazine of a particularly strange fringe-Christian denomination[[note]]his Worldwide Church of God, a rather dogmatic and autocratic denomination, achieved mass circulation by distributing the magazine for free at news-stands round the world[[/note]], was OVERLY FOND of this! Church fuhrer Herbert W. Armstrong was ''SO CONCERNED'' that his readership understood the ONE TRUE WAY OF GOD that not a sentence went by without '''[[EmphasizeEverything EMPHASIS]]''' being placed on the KEY POINTS of the '''GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!''' Brethren, do NOT let yourselves be '''DECEIVED''' by FALSE PROPHECY!
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:'''Tabletop''' Games]]
113	* ''Kevin Siembieda'', creator of ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'', has a ''deep and abiding'' love for ''unnecessary'' amounts of ''italics'' in any {{Sourcebook}} that he ''writes''.
114	* Most of the old Traveller RPG material insists on putting the name of the game system in bold. While it looks okay in small doses, it can look a little awful when you have to list all of the Traveller systems, like Classic Traveller, MegaTraveller, Traveller: The New Era. Similarly ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' (that's right: bold, italic ''and'' all caps). It frequently ends up looking silly given that the system has an enormous volume of {{splat}}books and the writers load them with references to one another.
115	* In novels of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' nearly all SpaceMarine [[ManInTheMachine Dreadnoughts]] are depicted as speaking in this manner. Example: [[Literature/SpaceWolf Bjorn the Fell-Handed]] in ''Battle of the Fang''. This is a justified case of PaintingTheMedium, as Dreadnoughts are MiniMecha with a critically wounded SpaceMarine inside, with their voices being amplified via speakers, and the bold text is the only way to render this well in text. The games featuring Dreadnoughts avert this, instead being able to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdA0oRQdltI properly depict a]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX2FjJm2_YA Dreadnought's]] mechanically bass voice
116	* ''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 is a {{Woolseyism}} to bring the English-language TCG in line with the Japanese-language OCG where the "HERO" archetype is written with Latin letters while non-included "hero" cards use katakana. Doing this cleared that some cards could affect ''all'' "HERO" cards without having to label each distinct sub-group on the card text.[[note]]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.[[/note]]
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:'''Video''' Games]]
120	* The G-Man from the ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' series speaks like this, emphasizing his otherworldly nature.
121	* ''VideoGame/{{Resident Evil\|1}}'' had it quite clearly. Especially Barry Burton.
122	* ''[[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} POKéMON]]'':
123	** Originally, ''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. ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' 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). ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Black and White]]'' did away with this as well, meaning no more ALL CAPS at all.
124	** However, getting a Pokémon from one of your old games via the Poké Transfer Lab will still feature its name in all-caps. (For example, your Pikachu will still be PIKACHU.) However, if it can still evolve, its evolved form's name will not be in all-caps (PIKACHU evolved into Raichu).
125	** If one of these Pokémon get transferred to ''Pokémon Bank'', its name will be decapitalized.
126	** Though the all-caps style has been retired, several gameplay-relevant terms that wouldn't typically be proper nouns in real life are still capitalized (e.g. Ability, Egg, etc.). A comprehensive list of such words can be found [[https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Bulbapedia:Manual_of_style#Capitalization here]].
127	** ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Pokémon Omega Ruby and 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.
128	** 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.
129	--->'''TRAINER:''' I SWALLOW SLUDGE TO TRANSFORM MYSELF
130	** The ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' games have the main player name in [[color: blue: blue]], the team members' names in [[color: yellow: yellow]] and the other [=NPCs=] in [[color: light blue: light blue]].
131	** In ''VideoGame/PokemonVietnameseCrystal'', the entire game is written in all caps. This makes the nonsensical, TranslationTrainWreck dialogue of the game that much funnier.
132	* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series is a repeat offender, most apparent in the ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' games.
133	* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry''
134	** The GBA remake of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry1'' spells King K. Rool's name as "K.ROOL" for no reason at all.
135	** In '' VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'', whenever Funky Kong says K. Rool's name, it is rendered in shaky text.
136	* ''VideoGame/BraveFencerMusashi'' went one worse and put words in [[color:red: red]] on a seemingly [[color:red:random]] basis.
137	* Also done in ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', and is just as annoying due to [[NinjaButterfly Issun]] wanting to explain everything.
138	* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}''[='=]s Captain Gordon, Defender of Earth! who manages to constantly talk in bold font and emphasize whatever he says in a [[LargeHam ridiculously epic manner]] akin to [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs Captain Kirk on Crack]]! As such, fans see it as customary to write his name only in bold font and with the gratuitous use of exclamation points! This is particularly obnoxious because no such thing appears in the game, which just uses voice tracks.
139	** How else can you possibly convey the speech patterns of CAPTAIN GORDON, DEFENDER OF EARTH! in text?
140	* ''Zelda'' games from the N64 onwards are very bad for this. Dialogue about certain items or characters are put in [[color:green: green]] or [[color:blue: blue]] or even [[color:red: red]]!
141	** Words appear in all the colors of the [[RainbowSpeak rainbow]] in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. Especially when referring to the Sages/Temples. [[color:cyan: Light]]-[[color:green: Forest]]-[[color:red: Fire]]-[[color:blue: Water]]-[[color:yellow: Spirit]]-[[color:pink: Shadow]]. Yes, [[color:pink: Shadow]] is written in pink. [[color:purple: Purple]] is usually reserved for other things, as is [[color:orange: orange]].
142	** This gets [[Narm/TheLegendOfZelda unintentionally hilarious]] in the ending of ''Ocarina of Time'' when Ganondorf screams at you in ALL CAPS. Because you can [[HelloInsertNameHere rename Link to anything you want]], it doesn't affect your protagonist's name at all. Thus, it all comes off like a HongKongDub in a dramatic moment. "CURSE YOU, ZELDA! CURSE YOU, SAGES! CURSE YOU, Link!"
143	* ''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]].
144	* ''VideoGame/BeneathASteelSky'' does this ALL the way through the GAME with every line of DIALOGUE being LITTERED with words in CAPITAL letters. It's really ANNOYING.
145	* In ''VideoGame/{{Tyrian}}'', the datacubes and ship descriptions are often sprinkled with bolded text. Names and values are almost always bolded, but sometimes, it is done for emphasis. For instance: ''The '''Gencore Maelstrom''' is a refined '''Phoenix''' with an additional '''2cm''' of main hull. It also features deluxe plush seating with '''extra-wide armrests''' and '''synth-velour lining'''.''[[note]]Note the content of the bolded text. "Gencore Maelstrom" and "Phoenix", name; "2cm", value; "extra-wide armrests" and "synth-velour lining", sheer emphasis.[[/note]]
146	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'':
147	** The game tends to emphasize certain [[color:blue:[keywords] ]]due to their plot importance rather than context within the sentence.
148	** The Fake President Deling speaks this way. i.e.: "Ahh... So what did you have in stORE for me had I resiSTED...? Why doN'T you teLL mE..."
149	* Meta example: titles of ''Final Fantasy'' games are always written in all caps in official sources. This results in bold inflation whenever the franchise or a specific game is referred to in descriptions.
150	* Arcturus Mengsk in ''VideoGame/StarCraftI'' and ''VideoGame/StarCraftII''. Though it doesn't show up in subtitles, you can ''hear'' it in every other word he says.
151	* And in ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'', there is MAAR, who TALKS like THIS ALL the DAMN TIME.
152	* While ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' doesn't have bolding, 2 characters still overuse emphasis as one of their quirks: [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Florent L'Belle]] constantly CAPITALIZES his WORDS, while [[VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney Enoch Drebber]] makes sure to put at least one [[RainbowSpeak orange]] word/phrase/[[cinnamon:part of a scream]] in each text box [[spoiler: until when he demands Naruhodo show proof that he was happy to leave the University because he lacked talent]].
153	* In Old World Blues, the DLC for ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', Dr. Borous has this as a VerbalTic, which serves to make him an even bigger ham than he already is. If questioned about this, his response is:
154	--> ''"DRAMA? There is no DRAMA in Science! As I learned in High School, Science! is an intellectual pursuit DEVOID of bestial emotions!"''
155	* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has MONOCULUS!
156	* Lampshaded in ''{{VideoGame/Borderlands 2}}'', where one of the loading screen messages notes that TORGUE guns not only fire EXPLOSIVE rounds but are [[BangBangBang LOUD]] and require EXCESSIVE USE OF CAPITAL LETTERS.
157	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' used the all-caps version later seen in the early ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games due to text limitations in the NES era. Major locations and items were always noted in all-caps, most frequently seen in the regular rejoinder to "Revive the Power of the ORBS!" This also applied to whenever anyone talked about a future opponent. Thus, you knew that Matoya was going to help you eventually, but when you hear about [[ThatOneBoss ASTOS]], you knew you were going to gear up to face him.
158	* ''VideoGame/DoItForMe'': The girlfriend talks like this along with CapsLock, to make her voice sound more demanding.
159	* ''VideoGame/TreasureOfTheRudra'': The giants has this as their speech quirk where they randomly CAPITALIZE a word or two in EVERY sentence.
160	* ''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.
161	[[/folder]]
162
163	[[folder:Web '''Comics''']]
164	* ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan'' falls into this all too often. The words in bold tend to be the usual {{pun}}s, and while their emphasis would be weird in normal conversation, it serves to highlight those puns to the more moronic listeners (and the more moronic readers).
165	** Though most of the time, the bolded words are completely random, and may just be due to Mookie writing the text by hand, causing people to be emphasizing words in their speech for no reason.
166	* Spoofed in ''WebComic/SluggyFreelance'': When a mission was announced, the wrong parts of the mission were emphasized (specifically, the part where it was noted that AnyoneCanDie). The speaker immediately berated the sound technician for putting reverb on the wrong part of the statement, to which he replied "Oh, my bad!"
167	* PlayedForLaughs in ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'' with ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST, who also only speaks his name in ALL CAPS.
168	** So does [[WebComic/GirlGenius OTHAR TRYGGVASSEN]], ''GentlemanAdventurer!''
169	* Tycho from ''WebComic/PennyArcade'', who feels the need to use italics ''every second sentence''.
170	** Talk out the strip, though, and the bold/italicized text works with the emphasis. It's not random, like most of the examples above.
171	* ''WebComic/DandyAndCompany'' used to suffer from this, perhaps due to the cartoonist's comic book influence.
172	* T Campbell of ''Webcomic/PennyAndAggie'' has a nasty habit of bolding all the time, and often in the least intuitive places.
173	** Another weird textual habit of T's (and he has many -- note that there's no period after his first "name") is that he'll ''of''ten i''tal''icize only the par''ti''cular syllable being stressed. This shows up most often in ''Webcomic/{{Fans}}''.
174	* In a variation, ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' uses underlines for emphasis, instead of boldface or italics.
175	* ''Webcomic/HowIKilledYourMaster'' uses this for emphasised words.
176	* Taking after video game inspirations, in ''[[Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures MS PAINT ADVENTURES]]'', during the [[https://web.archive.org/web/20090414215205/http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=001904 INTRODUCTION]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20100113085857/http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002212 OF A]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20100615230823/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.
177	** On a related note, ''Webcomic/SweetBroAndHellaJeff'' also does this. Of course, considering [[StylisticSuck the nature of the comic in question]], more often than not the inflated words aren't the ones which would be sensible to emphasise, and even the physical form of the emphasis is inconsistent - sometimes it's boldface, sometimes it's enlarged text, sometimes it's text enlarged even further, and sometimes it's colored.
178	* ''Webcomic/{{Waterworks}}'': Nearly every single noun is bolded, perhaps as a nod to video games. This is only in the original forum thread version. [[http://mspfanventures.com/log.php?adv=43 The mirror]] eschews all this boldage.
179	* In ''Webcomic/DragonMango'' many plot-relevant words, especially nouns, are bolded, as well as many other words, sometimes seemingly at random.
180	* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Edward Verres' exclamation [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-11-26 "I am an endless barrel of exposition!"]] is delivered this way.
181	[[/folder]]
182
183	[[folder:Web '''Original''']]
184	* [[Website/TVTropes Repeatedly Used On This Very Wiki]], especially when I Am Not Making This Up is invoked. Articles that use Bold Inflation:
185	** AMechByAnyOtherName
186	** FunWithAcronyms
187	** JustForFun/LousyAlternateTitles
188	** [[SelfDemonstratingArticle Bold Inflation]]
189	** Most trope pages with a "Don't do this" disclaimer at the end of the intro - this tends to show up on subjective tropes, or tropes that [[Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease shouldn't have Real Life examples]].
190	** This also tends to show up on pages with unmarked spoilers, to warn readers of just that.
191	** Any time we mention '''Creator/BrianBlessed''' or '''[[Franchise/{{Disgaea}} Captain Gordon, Defender of Earth!]]'''.
192	** '''[[Characters/MarvelComicsBruceBanner HULK]] TALK LOUD ON [[SelfDemonstrating/TheIncredibleHulk HIS PAGE]]!!!!!! LOTS OF BIG LETTERS AND SHOUTING!!!!!!! ''GRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!'''''
193	*** [[Literature/CiaphasCain CIAPHAS CAIN]], [[FakeUltimateHero HERO OF]] [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} THE]] [[DrinkingGame/TVTropes IMPERIUM!]] is similarly treated by many of his adoring fans.
194	* More websites than you can possibly imagine. The tendency of people to do this was parodied, along with many other things, at the [[http://www.realultimatepower.net/ Real Ultimate Power]] page.
195	* [[http://web.archive.org/web/20050908083526/http://www.theonion.com/content/columnists/view/harvey Jackie Harvey]], fake columnist for ''Website/TheOnion'', parodies this trope as it applies to gossip rags.
196	* [[http://www.foolquest.com/atheism.htm foolquest]]. Bold, italic, underline, colored text, hyperlinks, highlightings, text boxes, giant words.
197	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'': The ad copy for [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1657 SCP-1657]]:
198	-->''Need more '''punch''' to your breakfast? Grocery store eggs not working for you? Wish you could have a '''goddamn''' masculine omelet for once in your '''goddamn''' miserable life? Then buy the '''MAN EGG. MAN EGG''' will make you '''[[TestosteronePoisoning MANLY]].'''''
199	* Like the comic strips he reads, Blog/TheComicsCurmudgeon will engage in this once in a while, though he did [[http://joshreads.com/?p=23587 lampshade it once]].
200	* ''Literature/TheTimTebowCFLChronicles:'' The Ottawa REDBLACKS' official branding guidelines insist that the team name must always be written in ALL-CAPS and in ''1000 point font''. In Tim Tebow's memoir of his game against the REDBLACKS, he doesn't use the larger font size, but he makes sure to properly capitalize REDBLACKS--because he thinks that's hilarious.
201	* ''Blog/GaryLandlordOfTheFlies'': Several of the email exchanges between Gary and Gabe have moments where Gary '''bolds''' certain words for emphasis. Gabe notes that they were originally red and in a much larger font.
202	[[/folder]]
203
204	[[folder:Web '''Videos''']]
205	* Robert from ''WebVideo/{{Scamalot}}'' describes a nonexistent novel as being very '''passionate''' and '''sensitive'''.
206	* Many a video like on Website/YouTube or other sharing sites will use caps in the title to emphasize what it is they're trying to push, resulting in video titles like "COWS are secretly SPIES for the ILLUMINATI!" or "The GOVERNMENT is hiding ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS in your SILVERWARE!"
207	[[/folder]]
208
209	[[folder:'''Western''' Animation]]
210	* ''WesternAnimation/SquirrelBoy'': Rodney says his cousin is "Good at pretending to be something [he's] not". When his cousin notices the bold inflation, Rodney says he doesn't have any control over it.
211	* In ''Series/TheWeirdAlShow'' ''Fatman'' segments, the narrator does an audio version of this trope with various words being shouted.
212	[[/folder]]
213
214	[[folder:Real '''Life''']]
215	* Incredibly long-winded essayist [[http://www.ejectejecteject.com/ Bill Whittle]] actually makes this one work.
216	* The explanatory signs in the [[http://www.chestertourist.com/romangarden.htm Roman Gardens at Chester]] increase the size of the text for words that might be considered important. When this happens on every line it tends to distract from the flow of the text.
217	* Creator/FrancisEDec used this multiple times, although it was ''underline'' inflation, as his rants were written on a typewriter.
218	* A MultipleChoiceFormLetter sent to Creator/BrianBlessed used this in the negative responses.
219	-->I am (pleased/sorry/too busy) to tell you that your request (has been accepted/has been declined/is utterly ridiculous, NOW BEGONE).
220	[[/folder]]

Context Main / BoldInflation