TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Is this an example?

Go To

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

Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#26051: Feb 24th 2023 at 7:18:47 AM

[up][up]Seems coincidental, unless she confirms it or something. She wasn't the main character of that film nor had any hand in its development.

[up]Isn't that show a comedy with exaggerated personalities? Are these treated as 'troubling'?

dmcreif Vault Dweller from Vault 33 (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Vault Dweller
#26052: Feb 24th 2023 at 7:39:10 AM

"You Got a License to Drive (Me Crazy)" from The Boys is an example of Intercourse with You. But does it count as an In-Universe example or a "Soundtrack" example?

Okey Dokey!
dmcreif Vault Dweller from Vault 33 (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Vault Dweller
#26054: Feb 24th 2023 at 10:04:05 AM

So it's a song on the official soundtrack for season 3. However, it's also a song that exists in-universe.

The Genius description makes it seem like this blurs the lines:

A song recorded by the fictional Supe boyband “Super-Sweet” in 2008, with primary vocals from band member Drummer Boy, played by Miles Gaston Villaneuva.
The song was created for the third season of the Amazon Prime original series The Boys, which premiered on June 3rd, 2022.
Since it was recorded in 2008 in the fictional universe of The Boys, the sexual innuendos and double entendres were appropriate for the substantially younger Drummer Boy to sing. Now that Drummer Boy is an adult man, the lyrics have aged very poorly.

Okey Dokey!
ElRise I fix my examples all the time from The Dying City (Life not ruined yet) Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
I fix my examples all the time
#26055: Feb 24th 2023 at 10:09:19 AM

Found this in Main.Females Are More Innocent. Does it qualify?

  • All the Claymores in Claymore are women because all of the male Claymores would Awaken almost immediately.

Graffiti Wall
gjjones Musician/Composer from South Wales, New York Since: Jul, 2016
Musician/Composer
#26056: Feb 24th 2023 at 11:36:13 AM

Reposting from the previous page:

In Strike Witches, Yoshika Miyafuji is a friendly girl who often fights the Neuroi as a member of the 501st JFW. However, she draws the line at leaving her comrades to die, as demonstrated when she rescues Gertrud Barkhorn from certain death in the episode "Thanks". Does this fit under the Everyone Has Standards trope?

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#26057: Feb 24th 2023 at 1:00:25 PM

[up](x3) I checked the lyrics, and the song sounds like it's about sex to me.

[up][up]At best it's zero-context.

dmcreif Vault Dweller from Vault 33 (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Vault Dweller
#26058: Feb 24th 2023 at 1:18:07 PM

[up] I think the issue is whether to consider it a "soundtrack" or In-Universe example of Intercourse with You.

Okey Dokey!
Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#26059: Feb 24th 2023 at 1:50:29 PM

How "overdramatic" does Overdramatic Dating Commotion necessitate? I was thinking of pitching this as a replacement for Universal Group Reaction's image, but that page says dating-related things must go to ODC...but OTOH, they're all appropriately surprised because the character has never dated, not overly so.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ugi.png

Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#26060: Feb 24th 2023 at 2:12:39 PM

Looks like an example of both. I think "overdramatic" refers to "shown making a big fuss", not "so dramatic as to be out of character".

RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#26061: Feb 24th 2023 at 2:32:34 PM

[up][up]I checked, and the main page doesn't specify how overdramatic it has to be. Regardless, I think in that pic, the characters' responses are over-the-top enough to count as Overdramatic Dating Commotion.

selkies TOO serious! from Guess, guess, guess Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
TOO serious!
#26062: Feb 24th 2023 at 2:35:21 PM

[up][up][up] As ODC's creator, that doesn't count as an example. The reaction has to be overblown even in downplayed cases. Think "no one would normally react like this to some dating news irl." Being surprised can be normal if the other characters didn't expect a character to have a S.O. or if it reveals their sexuality or something.

The description already states:

Note: For an example to qualify, the reaction to two characters possibly being an item should be over-the-top. Throwing jokes, celebrating the couple normally, and one single character reacting or simply getting jealous/mildly surprised don't count. It has to be an overdramatic response from multiple characters.

I don't know how more specific I've to make it without bloating the description and repeating the same things.

Uncanny Valley Hot Babes in Your Area Are Looking To Know YOU! Click Here to Sign Up for FREE! | Not quite back tbh. Don't expect much.
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
#26063: Feb 24th 2023 at 2:36:06 PM

[up][up][up] I agree, that trope mentioned that is almost always Played for Laughs.


From YMMV.Apt Pupil:

  • Harsher in Hindsight:
    • ...
    • The film revolving around a man who fantasizes rape and escapes punishment for his crimes is this in light of the numerous allegations of sexual abuse and rape committed against underage men towards Bryan Singer, some of which happened on this film. Not to mention the ending where Todd outright says that if his school counselor tells anyone about what happened then Todd would accuse him of sexual advances.

In the movie, Todd doesn't fantasize about rape, that only happens in the book. The entry is fine, but I just want to remove that part.

Thought?

Edited by SoyValdo7 on Feb 24th 2023 at 4:36:35 AM

Valdo
MasterN Berserk Button: misusing Berserk Button from Florida- I mean Unova Since: Aug, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#26064: Feb 24th 2023 at 2:37:28 PM

For the Claymore example, I would say zigzagged. That detail is true, but Roxanne of Love and Hate is depicted as pure evil.

Asking again, is Small-Town Tyrant limited to Southern towns or can small Asian villages count?

One of these days, all of you will accept me as your supreme overlord.
selkies TOO serious! from Guess, guess, guess Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
TOO serious!
#26065: Feb 24th 2023 at 2:43:05 PM

I don't see why would Small-Town Tyrant be restricted to certain places and not be for all the towns in the world with corrupt authority figures.

Uncanny Valley Hot Babes in Your Area Are Looking To Know YOU! Click Here to Sign Up for FREE! | Not quite back tbh. Don't expect much.
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#26066: Feb 24th 2023 at 2:58:56 PM

[up](x3) I believe we're allowed to make fact-checking changes like that, assuming it doesn't start an Administrivia.Edit War (or something like that) and has an edit reason. I'd specify that that the fact he fantasizes about rape just happens in the book personally.

[up][up]Small-Town Tyrant seems to just involve, well, small towns from what I can gather. So, assuming the character meets the other requirement, then the example should count.

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.
#26067: Feb 24th 2023 at 3:04:31 PM

So in Film.Cocaine Bear, there is a scene where two kids find a package of cocaine in the woods and dare each other to try it. They attempt to do it by eating it, which only results in them spitting it out. I ran this by Trope Finder, and the closest I could get was Of Course I Smoke, which I’m pretty sure is relating mostly to smoking. Can it apply to drugs like cocaine?

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#26068: Feb 24th 2023 at 3:15:16 PM

[up]I checked the main page for Of Course I Smoke, and it only seems to apply to smoking. EDIT: At least from what I can tell.

Edited by RandomTroper123 on Feb 24th 2023 at 3:17:17 AM

selkies TOO serious! from Guess, guess, guess Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
TOO serious!
#26069: Feb 24th 2023 at 3:25:27 PM

If my answer wasn't clear, I meant all small towns in the world.


So, me constantly cleaning Characters.My Hero Academia Shoto Todoroki from misuse, zce, and shoehorns, I came across this:

  • You Called Me "X"; It Must Be Serious: A meta-example. During the Joint Training arc, as he watches Itsuka Kendo trying to overwhelm Yaoyorozu with physical attacks after separating her from her team, Todoroki calls Yaoyorozu by her full name as he states that Momo is gifted enough to have anticipated Kendo's strategy, since this is what she excels in. It says a lot about Todoroki's faith in Momo's capabilities, [[ShipTease given he has never called anybody else by their full name]].

This is a shoehorn, right? Because it's a "meta-example"? Yes, Todoroki calling Momo by her full name indicates how he believes in her and all, but this isn't something "serious coming up," this is just him providing commentary in a match, not talking to her directly. Or does it count still? Also, if kept, should the Ship Tease pothole stay? It's only ship tease if you squint hard enough; he probably just has faith in her based on his teamwork with her.

Uncanny Valley Hot Babes in Your Area Are Looking To Know YOU! Click Here to Sign Up for FREE! | Not quite back tbh. Don't expect much.
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#26070: Feb 24th 2023 at 4:55:31 PM

[up]I don't think it's meta. Regardless, I don't think it's correct usage either because it doesn't explain the "You Must Be Serious" part to me.

Ayumi-chan 3rd happiest man in Connecticut from Iacon City (Experienced Trainee) Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
3rd happiest man in Connecticut
#26071: Feb 24th 2023 at 5:02:12 PM

in response to this, Like I said, Channel Hop does have a dedicated video game folder but I'm still unsure if it really counts.

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A
Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#26072: Feb 24th 2023 at 5:12:00 PM

[up]x10 You're also the one who added

If two characters (seemingly) dating elicits such a reaction from everyone they know, then it's an Overdramatic Dating Commotion.
to Universal Group Reaction

Bullman Enid Sinclair Since: Jun, 2018 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Enid Sinclair
#26073: Feb 24th 2023 at 5:20:15 PM

From YMMV.Percy Jackson And The Olympians

The bolded part seems like natter and makes me think that this isn't an example. Also this just reads odd as the Ship Tease is very fleeting and doesn't go having read the book, as it doesn't explain how it comes out of nowhere.

Edited by Bullman on Feb 24th 2023 at 7:22:12 AM

Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup thread
selkies TOO serious! from Guess, guess, guess Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
TOO serious!
#26074: Feb 24th 2023 at 5:25:23 PM

[up][up] I revised my wording a bit so it's clear that the reaction has to be strong in UGR, but I don't get what about it?

Uncanny Valley Hot Babes in Your Area Are Looking To Know YOU! Click Here to Sign Up for FREE! | Not quite back tbh. Don't expect much.
Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#26075: Feb 24th 2023 at 5:34:37 PM

That's clearer. The original question asked whether the line was saying unified group reactions to someone dating should only go under ODC

I was thinking of pitching this as a replacement for Universal Group Reaction's image, but that page says dating-related things must go to ODC


Total posts: 36,649
Top