History Main / WordsDoNotMakeTheMagic

* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'': All spells are said in the old tongue, the language that has the true name for anything. Yet, you do not actually need the words for casting, they only help you focus, and they won't get you anywhere if you don't have the innate talent for magic anyway. This wordless magic comes as a surprise for Eragon in Ellesmera, when his opponent, although unable to speak, can still cast.

** Conversely, the "Silent Spell" feat allows a caster to disregard the verbal component and still have the spell take effect.

* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'': all spells are said in the old tongue, the language that has the true name for anything. Yet, you do not actually need the words for casting, they only help you focus, and they won't get you anywhere if you don't have the innate talent for magic anyway. This wordless magic comes as a surprise for Eragon in Ellesmera, when his opponent, although unable to speak, can still cast.

* ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'' only a magical being, such as an actual, magical witch, can cast spells. If a mortal tries it, the mortal is just speaking a rhyme. In the episode "[[Recap/CharmedS2E13AnimalPragmatism Animal Pragmatism]]": a group of [[{{Muggles}} mortals]] (mortal= non magical "normal" human) accidentally find a loophole. They cast a spell by playing a tape recording of Phoebe chanting her edits to a spell they were researching, and it worked because Phoebe did the rhyming.

* The Thu'um in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim''. It is possible for ordinary mortals to learn it, though it takes a lifetime of training and effort to master it. Anyone without that training would not be able to make the Shouts do anything. The Dragonborn can take shortcuts because he/she has the soul of a Dragon, and even the Dragonborn has to study the words of power and absorb the souls of other Dragons first. Ulfric Stormcloak himself was taught by the Greybeards to learn the ways of the Thu'um but used what he knew (the Unrelenting Force shout) to assert himself as the "true" High King of Skyrim and reestablish Skyrim as independent from Imperial puppet kings. The thing about Dragon Shouts is you have to understand deeply what they mean, not just the translation but the real very essence of the word.

* ''Comicbook/TheTombOfDracula'' establishes early and often that just waving a cross or other holy symbol at Dracula doesn't help, you have to really [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe]] to ward him off that way. Best seen when Wolverine made a cross with his claws and did nothing. However, Nightcrawler, a devout Christian, drives The Prince Of Darkness back with two sticks formed into the shape of a cross. Then when Dracula tried to attack Kitty, he was repelled by her Star of David.

* ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'': Gehn believes that this is the case, thinking that only those with D'ni blood can use The Art. The people of Terahnee believe the same thing, that Ahrotahntee (book-worlders, people native to an age) cannot use the Art. They're wrong; it's proven time and again that what matters are the books, ink, and words used, not the nature of the person writing them. Indeed for Gehn, it's something he should have known since his mother was a full-blooded Ahrotahntee (native to Earth in fact) and she was perfectly capable of the Art. Then again, cognitive dissonance is pretty much Gehn's stock in trade.
** With Gehn, it's also a literal case. Gehn tries to treat the Art as a science, and tries to use "formulae" of specific words, and delete "unnecessary" ones from the Ages that he links to in his writing (in order to save his ink). Unfortunately for Gehn, deleting "unnecessary" words tends to make his Ages dangerously unstable. His son Atrus understands the Art far better, and is able to not only produce stable Ages as a result but can even use his writing to slow the decay of unstable Ages like VideoGame/{{Riven}}.

* Present in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', but the words are still an important ''part'' of the spell. The incantation is as much a part of the spell as pointing and drawing up power, so wizards will use nonsense--but consistent--words rather than real ones, to avoid the risk of accidentally misfiring.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheWitchsGhost'': When Ben Ravencroft discovers the titular ghost, Sarah Ravencroft, is EvilerThanThou, he attempts to reseal her in the book, only to discover those magic words only work for a Wiccan, forcing the member of the Hex Girls who practiced it to perform the spell. Also, when the Scooby gang get their hands on the book, Sarah mocks them and says it is useless to ordinary people.

* In ''Film/NannyMcPhee'', upon entering Nanny [=McPhee=]'s room, he finds her stick lying there, the one that she had previously used multiple times to do magic. He bangs it on the floor in much the same way (presumably to try and do some magic of his own), to no effect, except for her suddenly appearing in a previously-empty corner of the room, with a table, cup of tea, and a book in hand.

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheWitchsGhost'': When Ben Ravencroft discovers the titular ghost is EvilerThanThou, he attempts to reseal her in the book, only to discover those magic words only work for a Wiccan, forcing the member of the Hex Girls who practiced it to perform the spell.

* ''Manga/TheKurosagiCorpseDeliveryService'': Sasayama's IdenticalAncestor (a Buddhist monk) tries to exorcize an evil sorcerer ([[spoiler:UsefulNotes/GrogoriRasputin]]) with a mantra , who snarkily tells him the words only work if spoken by a true believer. An arrow pops up reading "it's true!" pointing at Sasayama's head.

* ''Manga/TheKurosagiCorpseDeliveryService'': Sasayama's IdenticalAncestor (a Buddhist monk) tries to exorcize an evil sorcerer with a mantra ([[spoiler:{{UsefulNotes/Rasputin}}]]), who snarkily tells him the words only work if spoken by a true believer. An arrow pops up reading "it's true!" pointing at Sasayama's head.

* ''Manga/KurosagiCorpseDeliveryService'': Sasayama's IdenticalAncestor (a Buddhist monk) tries to exorcize an evil sorcerer with a mantra ([[spoiler:{{UsefulNotes/Rasputin}}]]), who snarkily tells him the words only work if spoken by a true believer. An arrow pops up reading "it's true!" pointing at Sasayama's head.

* The title character in ''[[Film/DoctorStrange2016 Doctor Strange]]'' realizes right away that imitating [[MagicalGesture Magical Gestures]] by rote would be just "waving [his] hands around", and that he needs to do "study and practice, years of it" before he can achieve proficiency in magic. However, he doesn't take the next step and realize that imitating the [[MagicalGesture Magical Gestures]] exactly ''isn't necessary'', and that his damaged hands aren't the barriers he thinks they are, until a master who is actually ''missing'' a hand demonstrates for him.

* Shown from a mage's perspective in Creator/RogerZelazny's second part of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber'' and in ''Literature/TheChangingLand''. Words are not the whole spell--they are just the trigger part, and without a properly readied magic they are meaningless.

* ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'': Gehn believes that this is the case, thinking that only those with D'ni blood can use The Art. The people of Terahnee believe the same thing, that Ahrotahntee (book-worlders, people native to an age) cannot use the Art. They're wrong; it's proven time and again that what matters are the books, ink, and words used, not the nature of the person writing them. Indeed for Gehn, it's something he should have known, since his mother was a full-blooded Ahrotahntee (native to Earth in fact) and she was perfectly capable of the Art. Then again, cognitive dissonance is pretty much Gehn's stock in trade.

* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', [[PsychoElectro Laxus]] attempts to use Marakov's, [[spoiler: his grandfather]] spell, Fairy Law, which targets anyone the user considers an enemy, to eliminate the entire guild. When it fails, despite having enough power and invoking it to activate, one of his friends reminds Laxus that his heart can't lie to his magic and the guild members are still his TrueCompanions.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Kido spells are spoken, but they only have effect if used by spiritual beings such as Soul Reapers.

* ''Film/BedknobsAndBroomsticks'', the [[ConArtist man]] who [[AchievementsInIgnorance invented the spells from what he thought was a nonsense book]] could not use them, but [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Angela]] [[Film/NannyMcPhee Lans]][[Series/MurderSheWrote bury's]] character, Miss Eglantine Price, could because she actually believed in magic. It took a great deal of concentration (and telling his reflection to believe in something for once in his life) before he could finally get one to work after being shown numerous times that magic existed.
** Later, Miss Price gets a hold of the magic words on the [=MacGuffin=] that she had been searching for throughout the film...and they do not work. The man then explains that ''none'' of the magic words she had been using for her spells were the "real" words or preparations; he had found them but spiced them up a bit before selling them on. He suggests she tries the same (read: they all sing a song)- and it works.

* The title character in ''[[Film/DoctorStrange2016 Doctor Strange]]'' realizes right away that imitating [[MagicalGesture Magical Gestures]] by rote would be just "waving [his] hands around", and that he needs to do "study and practice, years of it" before he can achieve proficiency in magic. However, he doesn't take the next step and realize that imitating the [[MagicalGesture Magical Gestures]] exactly ''isn't necessary'', and that his damaged hands aren't the barriers he thinks they are, until a master who is actually ''missing'' a hand demonstrates for him.

* In ''Literature/TheBible'', there is [[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:15&version=NIV an account of non-believers who attempt to cast out a demon]] by repeating the words Paul used to successfully exorcise one. The demon, being a bit of a DeadpanSnarker, replies "Jesus I know about, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
* ''The Dark is Rising'', the second novel in ''Literature/TheDarkIsRising'' series. Before Will Stanton reads the Book of Gramarye, Merriman tells him that only an Old One can use the spells and Words of Power in the book. Even if a human being could read the book he couldn't use them.
* ''Literature/AWizardInRhyme'' plays with this. Magic is treated as a neutral force that responds to any kind of symbol as a vehicle for the user's intent. Words aren't strictly necessary, but happen to be the most accessible, convenient, and reliable symbols to use, especially when arranged in verse. Thus, the use of verse is so prevalent that most spellcasters never bother with any other method.
* Shown from a mage's perspective in Creator/RogerZelazny's second part of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber'' and in ''Literature/TheChangingLand''. Words are not the whole spell--they are just the trigger part, and without a properly readied magic they are meaningless.

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Spells are nothing more than a PowerCrutch. They help with focus but are ultimately unnecessary. What you really need for magic is to understand the magical theory behind the spells. Novices like Eric need them but experts like Basilard and Dengel do not.
** ''Literature/AMagesPower'': Eric improvises a death spell by saying "From its toes to its head, make that monster dead!" but because he has no idea how necromancy works, it's an impotent rhyme.
* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', sorcery is powered and directed by the sorcerer's will: the spoken "spell" that causes the effects to manifest can be anything. TheArchmage Belgarath uses mystical-sounding triggers and once scolds Garion as unprofessional for directing his sorcery with silly words like "Push!"
* The ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' book ''How I Got My Shrunken Head'' has the protagonist getting a shrunken head, which has powers that work when he says certain words. But the powers had to be put inside him by his aunt first, so this no longer works when the magic is taken away.
* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'': all spells are said in the old tongue, the language that has the true name for anything. Yet, you do not actually need the words for casting, they only help you focus, and they won't get you anywhere if you don't have the innate talent for magic anyway. This wordless magic comes as a surprise for Eragon in Ellesmera, when his opponent, although unable to speak, can still cast.
* "The Staff in the Stone" by Creator/GarthNix: Incantations are basically mnemonics to "safely recall exactly how the power must be called and used", but are neither necessary nor sufficient for magic -- spellcasters need to have magical power and know how to use it.

* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'': Several people attempt to cast a magic spell from a scroll to no effect. Gabrielle deduces that they are using the wrong meter and accidentally casts the spell herself. HilarityEnsues.

* In ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'', people gain magic by having their souls joined to one of the Supernal Realms. The [[LanguageOfMagic High Speech]] is a handy PowerCrutch to make spells a bit more reliable, but without that connection, it can't be used or even reliably perceived.

* The Thu'um in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim''. It is possible for ordinary mortals to learn it, though it takes a lifetime of training and effort to master it. Anyone without that training would not be able to make the Shouts do anything. The Dragonborn can take shortcuts because he/she has the soul of a Dragon, and even the Dragonborn has to study the words of power and absorb the souls of other Dragons first. Ulfric Stormcloak himself was taught by the Greybeards to learn the ways of the Thu'um but used what he knew (the Unrelenting Force shout) to assert himself as the "true" High King of Skyrim and reestablish Skyrim as independent from Imperial puppet kings. The thing about Dragon Shouts is you have to understand deeply what they mean, not just the translation but the real very essence of the word.

* Zig-zagged in the Scooby episode "Scared A Lot In Camelot." The gang discovers an organ as the source of the ghosts that Merlin (a perp in disguise, of course) is able to conjure up. Shaggy and Scooby confront Merlin and the Black Knight as Shaggy chants "Abracadacra!" Daphne presses a key on the organ, making the projections of ghosts appear. But when Scooby says [[SpeechImpediment "Rippety rappety roo!"]], Daphne gets her finger caught between organ keys, producing nothing.

** In another episode, [[BaldOfAwesome Captain Black]] once read Uncle's books and in trying to perform a spell turned himself into a frog.

** A mook tries to imitate the Hokuto Shinken PressurePoint attack on [[TheHero Kenshiro]], of all people, even daring to tell him [[CatchPhrase "You're already dead"]] and count down the seconds to Kenshiro's death. Of course, he had no any idea where to hit and how hard to kill someone. Instead, he unknowingly counted down to his ''own'' death from Kenshiro's attack that he failed to notice.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. Kido spells are spoken, but they only have effect if used by spiritual beings such as Soul Reapers.

* In Franchise/TheDCU, Johnny Quick's sidekick Tubby Watts tried reciting Johnny's [[FormulaicMagic magical formula]] of [[EEqualsMCHAmmer ("3X2(9YZ)4A")]] [[note]]It is a nonsense formula, do not bother searching for it.[[/note]] in order to give himself SuperSpeed like Johnny's. It failed. A later {{Retcon}} established that the 'formula' was actually a personal mantra that would only work for Johnny (and eventually his daughter).

* ''Comicbook/{{PS238}}:'' The MagicMisfire version apparently happened off-screen when [[OnlySaneMan Toby]], [[MuggleBornOfMages who has no superpowers]], tried reading something in magic class:

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

* In ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', a mook tries the Hokuto Shinken on [[TheHero Kenshiro]], of all people, even daring to tell him [[CatchPhrase "You're already dead"]] and count down the seconds to Kenshiro's death. Of course, the mook was the one [[YourHeadASplode who was already dead]]. It can be surmised that it was Kenshiro's doing that killed the mook but it wasn't likely the mook had any idea where to hit and how hard to kill a master of style.
** Also applies to a minor ArcVillain, Amiba. Amiba made up his own style of Hokuto Shinken based upon his study of the power points required to use the style. However, it is clear he could not have known how to properly use attacks based upon the style. Additionally, when Amiba attempts to use his knowledge of power points to make himself stronger, the result causes his hands to be destroyed, allowing Kenshiro to finish him off.

* ''Comicbook/{{PS238}}:'' The MagicalMisfire version apparently happened off-screen when [[OnlySaneMan Toby]], [[MuggleBornOfMages who has no superpowers]], tried reading something in magic class:

* ''Comicbook/TheTombOfDracula'' establishes early and often that just waving a cross or other holy symbol at Dracula doesn't help, you have to really [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe]] to ward him off that way. Best seen when Wolverine made a cross with his claws and did nothing. However, Nightcrawler, a devout Christian, drives The Prince Of Darkness back with two sticks formed into the shape of a cross. Then when Dracula tried to attack Kitty, he was repelled by her Star of David.

** Verbal spell components spoken by {{Muggles}} have no effect in ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension''.