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Do you have trouble remembering the difference between Deathbringer the Adorable and Fluffy the Terrible?

Do you have trouble recognizing when you've written a Zero-Context Example?

Not sure if you really have a Badass Bookworm or just a guy who likes to read?

Well, this is the thread for you. We're here to help you will all the finer points of example writing. If you have any questions, we can answer them. Don't be afraid. We don't bite. We all just want to make the wiki a better place for everyone.


Useful Tips:

  • Make sure that the example makes sense to both people who don't know the work AND don't know the trope.
    • Wrong: The Mentor: Kevin is this to Bob in the first episode.
    • Right: The Mentor: Kevin takes Bob under his wing in the first episode and teaches him the ropes of being a were-chinchilla.
  • Never just put the trope title and leave it at that.
    • Wrong: Badass Adorable
    • Right: Badass Adorable: Xavier, the group's cute little mascot, defeats three raging elephants with both hands tied behind his back using only an uncooked spaghetti noodle.
  • When is normally far less important than How.
    • Wrong: Big Bad: Of the first season.
    • Right: Big Bad: The heroes have to defeat the Mushroom Man lest the entirety of Candy Land's caramel supply be turned into fungus.
  • A character name is not an explanation.


Other Resources:


For best results, please include why you think an example is iffy in your first post.

Also, many oft-misused tropes/topics have their own threads, such as Surprisingly Realistic Outcome (here) and Fan-Preferred Couple (here). Tropers are better able to give feedback on examples you bring up to specific threads. We don't discuss Complete Monster or Magnificent Bastard examples; please don't bring them up.

Edited by SeptimusHeap on Jul 17th 2025 at 8:59:01 PM

SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#25026: Jan 5th 2023 at 7:56:50 PM

[up] From what I see, I wouldn't call them "robotic". They look more like weird looking treants.

Valdo
gjjones Musician/Composer from South Wales, New York Since: Jul, 2016
Musician/Composer
#25027: Jan 5th 2023 at 8:25:52 PM

From Trivia.Jump Start Kindergarten:

  • Acting for Two:
    • In addition to Mr. Hopsalot, the late Tony Pope voiced all of the minor/supporting characters for the 1994 release, as well as Bebop, Jack, the squirrel and the gopher in the 1997 release. For the Kindergarten Reading spin-off, Pope also voiced Hopsalot's male relatives.
    • In the Kindergarten Reading spin-off, Cherry Davis voices Hopsalot's grandmother and Gracie.
    • In the 1997 release, Tally Briggs voices the Bluebird and Bonnie Bunny.

Does this count?

Edited by gjjones on Jan 5th 2023 at 10:28:09 AM

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
MrMediaGuy2 Since: Jun, 2015
#25028: Jan 5th 2023 at 8:41:13 PM

[up] I don't see why it wouldn't. Those sound like pretty straightforward examples of an actor voicing multiple characters.

SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#25029: Jan 5th 2023 at 8:53:41 PM

[up] I agree.

Valdo
dsneybuf (Not-So-Newbie)
#25030: Jan 6th 2023 at 5:17:06 AM

Can But Not Too Gay apply to two pairings that share a member?

  • In The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Javi declares love to his assistant, Gabriela, and to his favorite actor/screenwriting partner, Nick, both of whom love him back. However, since Nick and Javi are both Ambiguously Bi, only Gabriela receives a kiss from Javi, before the two of them hold off the Big Bad's goons from chasing Nick and his family. The closest Javi and Nick come to sharing an kiss involves them simply hugging after their movie earns a standing ovation.

Edited by dsneybuf on Jan 6th 2023 at 7:43:30 AM

StarSword Captain of USS Bajor from somewhere in deep space Since: Sep, 2011
Captain of USS Bajor
#25031: Jan 6th 2023 at 10:27:41 AM

[up]Certainly not a standard example but I think it fits.

Trust me, I'm an engineer!
MsOranjeDiscoDancer 2much2furious from the Saja Boys' last performance! Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Will you go out with me to the End?
2much2furious
#25032: Jan 6th 2023 at 11:18:56 AM

does anyone know if this counts as an invocation of Blatant Lies or is it something else like You Liar or No, You:

Mercenaries are hired to defend a nation declaring independence from a massive world-spanning government that controls much of the Earth after an apocalypse centuries ago and believes its rule is needed to prevent another apocalypse

Some years ago said government destroyed a nascent mercenary organisation that burgeoned into its own independence movement

You, a mercenary, play as one of the survivors of that destruction and many of the mercenary outfit you work with or for are also survivors

During one mission, you are ambushed by other mercenaries who accuse you and your teammates of harbouring a near-suicidal grudge against the government to the point of another near-apocalypse (your actions directly led to the government nuking a city that causes widespread damage in an attempt to kill your outfit)

Your outfit denies this because it's mercenary work and Nothing Personal, but the attacking mercs' leader scoffs and claims that, as a merc who also survived the same destruction, she thinks they're lying

The game later strongly implies the leader's accusation was right as your boss (who is implied to be one of the leaders of the previous independence movement) and most of your teammates become fervent warmongering nationalists in exchange for some kind of shady deal with the independent nation; your closest teammate comments that whatever it was, it gave your boss far too much power

In the same conversation, one of the attacking mercs claims his attack on your outfit is "just business" while dripping with venom; it's clear he carries a grudge against your outfit (for some backstory, you've stolen at least one contract from him, and many other mercenary outfits hate the fact your outfit are basically stealing contracts and glory from them)

i may be dead inside but at least i have Mystery :,)
Mrph1 he/him from Mercia (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: This is not my beautiful wife!
he/him
#25033: Jan 6th 2023 at 12:56:26 PM

From Trivia.X Statix:

  • Executive Meddling: After a tweak in Marvel's standards and practices, X-Statix got moved to the Marvel Knights imprint for its final arc.

If all that happened was that it was moved to a slightly more 'mature readers' imprint because Marvel started using different branding for the less kid friendly stories - is that really executive meddling? There's no suggestion that it changed the content of the work itself.

JohnRore Since: Apr, 2021
#25034: Jan 6th 2023 at 1:16:32 PM

The scenes in Welcome to Chippendales in which Nick trains the dancers, that's not Training Montage, is it? Or maybe Hard-Work Montage? or something else entirely?

BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#25035: Jan 6th 2023 at 1:59:26 PM

So this is a weird example of They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character from YMMV.Puss In Boots The Last Wish:

  • More of a case of "They wasted a perfectly good ACTRESS": Although Goldilocks doesn't have a bad/lackluster arc unworthy of having talent behind her by any means, one wonders why Dreamworks tapped Florence Pugh, an extremely popular (and probably expensive) performer and one of the most respected actresses of her generation, of all people, to voice what basically amounts to a secondary villain who basically gets shoved to the background B-plot.

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Jan 6th 2023 at 4:59:41 AM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#25036: Jan 6th 2023 at 2:00:40 PM

From YMMV.Pam And Tommy:

  • Vindicated by History: A recurring theme throughout the series is that Mötley Crüe is no longer relevant and Hair Metal in general has become an outdated laughingstock. A memorable scene shows the band being relegated to a smaller studio by their label in favor of Third Eye Blind. However fast-forward 25 years and Motley Crue is headlining a stadium tour and has about a dozen songs that are on regular playlists across many different formats. Third Eye Blind is long forgotten aside from the odd hit like "Semi-Charmed Life" and "Jumper", and their tour barely registers.

This example is unrelated to the biopic itself.

Valdo
Agentofchaos A God Am I from Somewhere in the Universe Since: Dec, 2021
#25037: Jan 6th 2023 at 2:04:08 PM

[up] That sounds like whatever the opposite of being vindicated is

[up][up] That's just complaining and the trope is about the character and not the actor being underused

"We'll meet again" | 🏳️‍⚧️
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#25038: Jan 6th 2023 at 2:09:06 PM

[up][up][up][up] Re: Chippendales

That's a Training Montage for sure.


[up][up][up]Re: Puss

Not this trope, it's for characters that get wasted, not actors.


[up][up]Re: Motley Crue

No idea what they're trying to say, because in no way shape or form has Motley Crue been "vindicated". No critical re-appraisal of a hair metal band has taken place, no matter what nostalgia circuit they play now.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#25039: Jan 6th 2023 at 2:10:46 PM

Cut the Puss In Boots example!

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
JohnRore Since: Apr, 2021
BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#25041: Jan 6th 2023 at 2:42:28 PM

I have cut the Puss example.

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Jan 6th 2023 at 5:43:31 AM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Hello83433 (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#25042: Jan 6th 2023 at 4:05:28 PM

Sole Survivor requires that there be one survivor, correct? Because I found an example with 4 survivors.

  • Resident Evil: As of 2021, only Chris, Jill, Barry and Rebecca are all the remains of S.T.A.R.S.

CSP Cleanup Thread | All that I ask for ... is diamonds and dance floors
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#25043: Jan 6th 2023 at 4:09:55 PM

[up]Correct, only one can apply to this trope.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#25044: Jan 6th 2023 at 4:14:13 PM

[up][up]You're right and that's why that example is misuse.

Traveler123 Don't look back, something may be gaining on you from In the trenches. Since: Mar, 2018 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
Don't look back, something may be gaining on you
#25045: Jan 6th 2023 at 4:17:46 PM

I posted this on Ask The Tropers, and was reminded that it's a question better suited for here.

In the Star Trek TOS episode "The Doomsday Machine", the conflict between Kirk, Spock and Decker is listed under Jurisdiction Friction, and this example is also cited on the Jurisdiction Friction page itself.

  • Jurisdiction Friction: Much of the internal conflict of the episode is Commodore Decker asserting command of the Enterprise while Kirk is occupied on the Constellation, all the while making rash and sloppy decisions. While he is technically the ranking officer, and even outranks Kirk, he isn't assigned to the Enterprise and only has provisionary authority on the ship. Decker is shrewd enough to know their only option was for McCoy to deem him mentally unfit, but Spock knows the Rules Lawyer game being played as without a proper physical and no one above him to order him to sickbay so McCoy can't make an official declaration. It isn't until they regain communication with Kirk that Decker is ousted and Spock resumes command. If he had survived he might have been able to file charges through Starfleet, but it's highly unlikely he would have a case.

My concern is that I really don't regard this example as Jurisdiction Friction. None of them are arguing or concerned about who has jurisdiction, they're arguing about who is in command. Two different things. They're all Star Fleet officers. If anything, it would be Artistic License – Military. Spock did have to give up command of the Enterprise when Decker pulled rank. However, as soon as Decker announced that he was going to try and attack the Doomsday Machine when everyone knew the Enterprise's weapons couldn't scratch it Spock should have simply said "that's insane, you're relieved. Security, get him out of here." It also heads into Surprisingly Realistic Outcome when Kirk orders Spock to assume command. Decker tries to say Kirk doesn't have the authority to do that but Kirk actually does, he's Captain of the Enterprise and Decker's plan is clearly insane. Anyway, that's my perspective but I wanted to get feedback from tropers before I started editing.

RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#25046: Jan 6th 2023 at 4:21:55 PM

[up]While I'm unsure if Artistic License – Military works instead, I don't think disagreements about who is in command is part of Jurisdiction Friction. So, I'm leaning on saying that isn't an example.

Edited by RandomTroper123 on Jan 6th 2023 at 4:22:07 AM

MaeBea from Satan's basement Since: Jul, 2021 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#25047: Jan 6th 2023 at 4:35:39 PM

Would thisnote  be an example of Pulling Your Child Away?

"Squid has to go to market. He's had to go to market for as long as he's sucked water."
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#25048: Jan 6th 2023 at 4:40:17 PM

[up]Because I think Sandy is an outcast (I haven't watched the series in a while), it's a perfect example imo since a mother pulled her son away from her.

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#25049: Jan 6th 2023 at 4:40:53 PM

Sandy's only an outcast in that episode, but yeah.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]

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