History Main / WordsDoNotMakeTheMagic

The results of when a character uses a spell where more than the MagicalIncantation matters will vary. There may simply be no effect or the [[MagicMisfire spell could backfire]]. If a villain tries to use a hero's spell and fails due to lacking something necessary for success like ThePowerOfFriendship, expect a ReasonYouSuckSpeech. Aversion of this trope are rarely examples since then words '''''do''''' make the magic and it is a case of MagicalIncantation works for anyone.

* 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 sumrised 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.

[[folder:Comicbooks]]

** [[Franchise/TheFlash Wally West]] got ahold of the formula in attempt to become even faster. It ''worked'' ([[GoneHorriblyRight too well, in fact]]), but this is later established as being because he was already connected to the Speed Force, the mystical energy field that empowers all DCU speedsters, Johnny included.

** 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.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series, it's repeatedly noted that magic lies in the user's attitude and determination - chants, cauldrons and blood offerings are generally there because of the RuleOfCool.

** In general, it is made quite clear that magic is more than just a wand and an incantation; you have to be a wizard to use magic. [[MuggleBornOfMages Filch]] trying to learn magic via Quickspell would be an good example.
** The fact that wizards have to go to WizardingSchool. You can't just say the words and wave the wand, you have to know ''how'' to do it. [[note]]It is possible for a skilled wizard/witch to cast a random magical effect similar to "accidental magic" without using their wands, too, since wands are a tool of control, and not one of power.[[/note]]

* ''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.

* 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 work when the magic is taken away.

* ''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.
* ''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.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

** 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}}.

* 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 on what they mean, not just the translation but the real very essence of the word.

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* Played with in ''{{Webcomic/Morphe}}''. All of the spells in the series are standard and can be taught or read about in books. However casting is tied closely to how the mage views reality and magic. Tyler can only cast by comparing what he is doing to fictional precedent. Billy can only cast by exerting his will over reality. Curio "codes" his spells using a mentality of adjusting the attributes and statistics of the world around him. Despite this, they are all learning the same school of magic. Tyler and Amical even use the exact same spells, though Tyler does not need to physically touch people like Amical does.

[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

** Jade attempts to use a cult's spell against them by repeating the words they use to cast it, and fails because she's not a member.

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* The core of the divide between Protestantism and Catholicism largely comes down to differing interpretations of this trope. The Protestant doctrine of ''sola fide'' holds that faith in God alone is what saves believers' souls and gets them into {{Heaven}}, and that good works in life don't make one a good Christian so much as they are an expression of such. The Catholic Church disagrees, and holds that both faith ''and'' good works are necessary for salvation. Notably, each side sees the other as being on the wrong end of this trope. Protestantism was born in response to the Catholic Church's abuse of the selling of indulgences, which allowed people to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney buy their way into Heaven]] while the Church got rich, and in response declared that faith was the important factor in salvation and that emphasizing good works opened the door to {{corrupt|Church}}ion. The Church, in response, believes that ''sola fide'' gives believers ''carte blanche'' to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections ignore Christ's teachings out of a belief that they're already saved]], and that good works are necessary in order to prove that one is keeping the faith and isn't just hollowly reciting the creed.

* ''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.

* ''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 ''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.

* ''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 ''Animal Pragmatism'': a group of [[{{Muggles}} mortals]] (mortal= non magical "normal" human) find a loophole. They cast a spell by playing a tape recording of Phoebe chanting a spell, and it worked, because Phoebe did the rhyming.

Alice sees Bob successfully accomplish a spell or [[MagicAndPowers mystical feat]] and later attempts to accomplish the same spell or feat by merely copying or repeating their words and/or actions and fails for the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin titular reason]]. Usually occurs when it takes more than the MagicalIncantation and MagicalGesture. The magic may be in [[LanguageOfMagic another language]] that requires understanding before use. It may be because as a {{Muggle}}, Alice ''[[TrainingTheGiftOfMagic can't]]'' cast magic. Or ByThePowerOfGreyskull only works for Bob since only ''he'' has the power of Greyskull. [[MagicPrerequisite Maybe the sun wasn't at the right height.]] Whatever the case even if the character is AwesomeByAnalysis, the feat won't work by observation.

* ''Film/BedknobsAndBroomsticks'', the [[ConArtist man]] who [[AchievementsInIgnorance invented the spells from what he thought was a nonsense book]] could not use them, but [[Disney/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.

** Mentioned in ''Discworld/MakingMoney'': the {{golem}}s won't obey orders even spoken in their native tongue, unless [[spoiler: the person giving the order is dressed like an Umnian high priest in golden robes, aka Moist's suit.]]

** Same thing in ''Discworld/WyrdSisters'' as the names of instruments of demon summoning are immaterial as long as the general sound and intent is there. Turns out a big copper ladle is quite useful for bopping an uncooperative demon.
** In ''Discworld/IShallWearMidnight'', a very powerful but untrained witch casts a spell that ''other witches'' think is nonsense, overlapping with AchievementsInIgnorance.

* Demonstrated in ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'' when Prodigy (a former mutant whose power was to absorb knowledge from people around him) fakes out an extra-dimensional monster with a magic phrase and hand sign. He explains to Hukling that knowing magic words doesn't give him the temperament to actually cast spells.

* ''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. Then when Dracula tried to attack Kitty, he was repelled by her Star of David.

Compare/Contrast ByThePowerOfGreyskull, where the words do heavily matter but usually only certain characters can use the words successfully.

* In ''Anime/MaryAndTheWitchsFlower'' when Peter asks Mary if they can undo the magic trapping by chanting from the SpellBook, Mary says that chanting won't work alone because you need to have actual magic powers.

* ''Series/{{Charmed}}'' 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 ''Animal Pragmatism'': a group of [[{{Muggles}} mortals]] (mortal= non magical "normal" human) find a loophole. They cast a spell by playing a tape recording of Phoebe chanting a spell, and it worked, because Phoebe did the rhyming.

* In ''Series/{{Merlin}}'', the second episode shows how Merlin struggles through a long night in order to master the spell he needs to save Arthur, even though he can say the [[MagicalIncantation Incantation]] properly, it's not enough for him to use that spell.

** The reason Wizards use dead languages and nonsense words for their spells is that the incantation becomes linked with the spell in their mind, so if they use a word from a language they speak regularly, due to the mental equivelant of muscle memory they could burn their house down whenever they say "fire."

* 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 excorcise one. The demon, being a bit of a Main/DeadpanSnarker, replies "Jesus I know about, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

** ''[[Literature/AMagesPower A Mage's Power]]'': 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.

* Played with in ''[[{{Webcomic/Morphe}} morphE]]''. All of the spells in the series are standard and can be taught or read about in books. However casting is tied closely to how the mage views reality and magic. Tyler can only cast by comparing what he is doing to fictional precedent. Billy can only cast by exerting his will over reality. Curio "codes" his spells using a mentality of adjusting the attributes and statistics of the world around him. Despite this, they are all learning the same school of magic. Tyler and Amical even use the exact same spells, though Tyler does not need to physically touch people like Amical does.

* This {{koan}} from the JargonFile:

The results of when a character uses a spell where more than the MagicalIncantation matters will vary. There may simply be no effect or the [[MagicMisfire spell could backfire]]. If a villain tries to use a {{hero}}'s spell and fails due to lacking something necessary for success like ThePowerOfFriendship, expect a ReasonYouSuckSpeech. Aversion of this trope are rarely examples since then words '''''do''''' make the magic and it is a case of MagicalIncantation works for anyone.

* In the WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}} "Hero High" series by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/485015/Mr-Evil Mr. Evil]], Alexander Sovereign, while studying Gwen's magic, realizes that the words she speaks to use her magic mean nothing. He points out they are only a way to focus the power to what she wants it to do and after training long enough can use the magic to do what she wants without words.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult Cargo cults]], Pacific island tribes whose islands were used as bases by various militaries in WWII. From the islanders' point of view, these military people didn't have to farm their own food - instead they built an airbase and called for food and other supplies to be brought down in cargo planes. After the soldiers left, the islanders tried to call for supplies themselves and built their own airbases; but since they were only copying appearance and didn't understand the underlying technology, the planes never came.
* A more explicitly word-based version is "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult_programming cargo cult programming]]", when novice programmers copy code snippets without understanding what the snippets mean, thus risking a totally different result from the original.
* It's not uncommon for children to try to do something they've seen on TV. If what they saw was a result of some kind of special effect (or was part of an animated show), then they will inevitably fail. For example, what [[Anime/DragonBallZ DBZ]] fan didn't try to use the [[{{Kamehamehadouken}} Kamehameha]] when they were a kid?

** Another Literature/HarryPotter example, it is made quite clear that a wand and an incantation do not magic make, you have to be a wizard to use magic. [[MuggleBornOfMages Filch]] trying to learn magic via Quickspell would be an good example.

** Parseltongue (the ability to speak with snakes) apparently is not magical as such. Ron is able to [[spoiler: open the Chamber of Secrets]] by just making the same sounds that Harry did when he opened it. He had no idea what he was saying but it worked because it was the sounds rather than the knowledge of the actual words that were required opened the door.

Alice sees Bob successfully accomplish a spell or [[MagicAndPowers mystical feat]] and later attempts to accomplish the same spell or feat by merely copying or repeating their words and/or actions and fails for the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin titular reason]]. Usually occurs when it takes more than the MagicalIncantation and MagicalGesture. The magic may be in [[LanguageOfMagic another language]] that requires understanding before use. It may be because as a {{Muggle}}, Alice ''can't'' cast magic. Or ByThePowerOfGreyskull only works for Bob since only ''he'' has the power of Greyskull. [[MagicPrerequisite Maybe the sun wasn't at the right height.]] Whatever the case even if the character is AwesomeByAnalysis, the feat won't work by observation.

* Magic in ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'' requires mana, so [[{{Muggles}} Kobayashi]] is unable to cast spells, even though she has a deep understanding of magical theory from her programming background. [[spoiler:Of course, this changes when she goes to the other world, which has a BackgroundMagicField.]]

* ''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.