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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.


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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

reppuzan Since: Dec, 2014
#28076: Jun 15th 2023 at 8:15:01 PM

Is this an example of Elemental Shapeshifter?

  • Quintin has the ability to turn any part of his body into a green slime that can either be viscous or slippery. He can freely extend his limbs to greatly extend his reach and grapple himself anywhere he can stick his hands. Conversely, he can reel things toward him like a fishing rod. He can also fling chunks of slime thick enough to stop bullets as projectiles. However, he struggles to turn his head and torso into slime, and trying to do so leads to nausea and vomiting.

CompletelyNormalGuy Am I a weirdo? from a place where folks put cream cheese on hot dogs (Oldest One in the Book)
Am I a weirdo?
#28077: Jun 15th 2023 at 8:49:53 PM

[up]The description seems to suggest that the trope is a bit more broad than just earth, wind, fire, and water. I'd say that's an example.

[up][up]It seems good as written. Just a heads up though: I'm far from the only one who can respond to things. Anyone can. It's best to ask for help in general than from any specific person. If someone isn't responding to your query, it might be because they don't know the answer.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
Noaqiyeum we must dissent (it/they) from across the gulf of space (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
we must dissent (it/they)
#28078: Jun 15th 2023 at 9:00:35 PM

ElRise: The Depraved Homosexual example is valid, just unnecessarily dithering over whether the character is "actually gay". (As far as the trope is concerned, what matters is that, onscreen, he is sexually malicious, exclusively towards men.) The other three can be cut.

ERROR: The current state of the world is unacceptable. Save anyway? YES/NO
Avenger09 Since: May, 2014
#28079: Jun 16th 2023 at 1:14:00 AM

I meant Daal will one day overthrow her master the same way the Sith Mother did the Screecher.

Edited by Avenger09 on Jun 16th 2023 at 9:14:26 AM

AnoneMouseJr Since: Nov, 2010
#28080: Jun 16th 2023 at 7:03:07 AM

Debating if this counts:

  • Weirdness Magnet: Discussed in the second story, where it's mentioned that most cities, including Las Vegas, are a "demon's paradise" that naturally attract supernatural beings, so going to Vegas would be no different from going back to Sunnydale. Then inverted when Tara asks if there's any city that isn't a demon's paradise — Spike and Anya promptly reply, simultaneously, "Omaha."



Until next time...

Anon e Mouse Jr.

If you're responding directly to one of my posts, please ping me to make sure I see it.
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
#28082: Jun 16th 2023 at 7:50:12 AM

I found these two Fighter Mage Thief entries on Characters.Tokyo Xanadu Morimiya City that I feel are shoehorned but I would like more opinions.

Nemesis:

  • Fighter Mage Thief: While all of the "Big Three" of the underworld have similar methods, Nemesis is the Mage to Zodiac's Fighter and the Kronos Orden's Thief. They were founded by a collective of mystics and were the first to discover the Eclipse phenomenon, leading them to pave the way for its study, and are the creators of Soul Devices, explicit manifestations of a person's soul, and the other supernatural abilities that can be used in tandem with them. Their knowledge is highly valued, with groups like Zodiac paying a very hefty sum for access to their techniques.

Zodiac:

  • Fighter Mage Thief: While all of the big three of the underworld have similar methods, Zodiac is the Fighter to Nemesis' Mage and the Kronos Orden's Thief. Their presence is the most felt in the world, being a relatively modern association of corporations rather than a secret society, and who often operate with high degrees of force if their ability to firmly lock down any areas of Eclipse activity is any indication. Their strength is also notable in the social field as well, as they function as the main outlet of the cover ups that allows the cast to avoid suspicion.

Edited by Ayumi-chan on Jun 16th 2023 at 10:50:41 PM

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A
Mariofan99 Since: Jun, 2021 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#28083: Jun 16th 2023 at 11:07:56 AM

In the Kingdom Hearts series there are numerous instances of a character losing their heart or body but one continuing to endure such as Xehanort discarding his body to posses Terra in BBS or Sora losing his body and turning into a heartless in KH 1. The series later establishes a character can only be Killed Off for Real if their heart and body are destroyed at the same time. If the two halves are destroyed seperatly the person can just reform. Should any instances of a character losing their heart or body be counted under Famous Last Words or only the instances of Deader than Dead?

wingedcatgirl mys. minty from the silly dimension from lurking (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Oh my word! I'm gay!
mys. minty from the silly dimension
#28084: Jun 16th 2023 at 11:20:48 AM

JustForFun.Famous Last Words is no longer a trope now, but the intent does seem to be "last words a character speaks before leaving the narrative by death".

Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.
CompletelyNormalGuy Am I a weirdo? from a place where folks put cream cheese on hot dogs (Oldest One in the Book)
Am I a weirdo?
#28085: Jun 16th 2023 at 12:19:25 PM

[up][up][up]Even if it is an example. there isn't any context.

[up][up][up][up]As written, it's an example. If you don't think that what's written is accurate, then that's not really an issue that this thread can help you with.

[up][up][up][up][up]Feels a little shoehorned to me.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
Khoshekh6 Since: May, 2022
#28086: Jun 16th 2023 at 1:15:02 PM

[up] to be clear, you are referring to the spoiler part?

Bullman Enid Sinclair Since: Jun, 2018 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Enid Sinclair
#28087: Jun 16th 2023 at 2:24:47 PM

I found this on YMMV.Life Is Strange 2:

  • Strangled by the Red String: The game pushes you hard into a romance with Cassidy during Episode 3, with lots of choices centered around spending alone time with her. In both Episodes 2 and 3, virtually every dialogue option with her to forces the player into flirting with her, and there's Like no option to get her to stop. Like the first game, the gay option of Finn is locked behind making morally dubious choices, which sends an unfortunate message. Finally, it's possible to sleep with Cassidy, but only kiss Finn.

This doesn't sound like this trope which is "romance that is sudden and out of nowhere" but rather something else but I am not sure what.

Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup thread
CompletelyNormalGuy Am I a weirdo? from a place where folks put cream cheese on hot dogs (Oldest One in the Book)
Am I a weirdo?
#28088: Jun 16th 2023 at 2:35:27 PM

[up]I'm seeing Developers' Desired Date and But Not Too Gay.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
TroperNo9001 Dragon in Waiting from the Dollhouse (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: I turn to stone when you are gone
Dragon in Waiting
#28089: Jun 16th 2023 at 2:43:52 PM

Is this example in River's profile valid?

* Fiery Redhead: Inverted. She's an introverted and reserved redhead instead.

It was removed for being a shoehorn, but the Playing With page says this in the Inverted section: "Alice is a softspoken Shrinking Violet who also happens to be a redhead."

Still waiting for someone to break him free...
RainbowPumpqueen R A T (she/her) from Kalos Since: Apr, 2021 Relationship Status: Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!
R A T (she/her)
#28090: Jun 16th 2023 at 3:45:20 PM

Would "Let Papyrus Say Fuck" Day better fit Pop Culture Holiday or Memetic Mutation? Both? For context, one fan started a trend where on June 16th, the fandom would make fanart of Papyrus swearing/committing crimes/etc to combat the infantilism done to him by the Undertale fandom. It's become a big thing in the Tumblr side of the fandom.

Feel free to help with the sandbox or edit my troper wall
Mrph1 he/him from Mercia (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: This is not my beautiful wife!
he/him
#28091: Jun 16th 2023 at 4:23:46 PM

From Uncanny Avengers (2023):

  • Stealth Sequel: The FCBD prelude reveals the mini-series is also a sequel to Gerry Duggan's 2012-2018 run on Deadpool, with the return of former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Emily Preston and Eleanor 'Ellie' Camacho (who haven't appeared since its conclusion).

Not sure this really qualifies (or why that's spoiler tagged). There's no secret that it's part of the shared Marvel Universe, or that it features Deadpool (he's in the promo art, including the current page image).

So bringing back characters from a previous Deadpool comic... is just The Bus Came Back? Not a stealthy sequel at all, especially when we know all this before the first issue's been released.

Or am I missing something?

Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#28093: Jun 16th 2023 at 4:36:35 PM

Are main characters eligible for Ensemble Dark Horse entries?

YMMV.Justice League XRWBY Super Heroes And Huntsmen

  • Ensemble Dark Horse: The movie's incarnation of Jessica Cruz is one of its most lauded elements, with many citing her interactions with Jaune as the highlight and emotional core of the film, and her struggles with anxiety as its most profound subplot. Her performance from Jeannie Tirado has been similarly lauded as one of the production's best.

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
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
#28094: Jun 16th 2023 at 4:37:33 PM

To Completely Normal Guy, were the three arrows here talking my post? If so can you elaborate? So those looking woukd like to know more than just "this example lacks context".

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A
CompletelyNormalGuy Am I a weirdo? from a place where folks put cream cheese on hot dogs (Oldest One in the Book)
Am I a weirdo?
#28095: Jun 16th 2023 at 5:23:43 PM

Yeah, I was responding to your post. You can ignore what I said though. I misread your previous post. After a reread, I agree that they're shoehorned. While the Nemesis example reads fine on its own, the Zodiac example makes it clear that a lot of mental gymnastics is being done to interpret them as the "fighter".

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
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
#28096: Jun 16th 2023 at 5:31:40 PM

[up] TBH, I don't really know if they really fit. Aside from the mental gymnaistics stuff you mentioned, where are talking about organization rather than party members. There's also the fact that the Kronos Order gets the least amount of attention (aside from the fact that one of your friends (Jun) is a member of it) in regards to behind the scene stuff than Nemesis or Zodiac, so we can't say 100 if they fit the thief archetype.

Edited by Ayumi-chan on Jun 16th 2023 at 8:37:49 PM

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A
Bubblepig Rei from Tokyo (Apprentice) Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
#28097: Jun 16th 2023 at 7:05:28 PM

Response to @Completely Normal Guy: Oh, sorry about that. I'll ask others for help instead on relying on one person.

Reposting my post for other opinions whatever my examples are good or not.

Moving on with another examples, I make two upcoming examples for From Hell and I want you guys to think if I used the tropes right Before I send it to Get Help With English forum. Here are some examples:

  • Thousand-Yard Stare: Near the end, we see a now lobotomized Gull starting into the wall while looking catatonic.
  • Laser-Guided Karma: Gull is the killer Jack The Reaper who's involved with Freemasons conspiracy and murders prostitutes to cover up The Prince marriage with Ann. When Gull was exposed as Jack The Reaper by Abbrrline, it's safe to say Gull got what he deserves when the Freemasons lobotomize Gull and sends him to mental asylum to protect their image, making him a vegetable just like Ann.

Do you guys think my examples fits the tropes or not?

"Now it's starting to feel like a game!"
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#28098: Jun 16th 2023 at 7:10:23 PM

Would "Let Papyrus Say Fuck" Day better fit Pop Culture Holiday or Memetic Mutation? Both? For context, one fan started a trend where on June 16th, the fandom would make fanart of Papyrus swearing/committing crimes/etc to combat the infantilism done to him by the Undertale fandom. It's become a big thing in the Tumblr side of the fandom.

I launched Pop Culture Holiday and it is meant to encompass memes, but generally there's some significance behind the date (otherwise it'd list every fandom "appreciation day" for ships and characters regardless of context). Is there a reason people chose June 16th for that date?

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#28099: Jun 16th 2023 at 10:28:37 PM

[up][up][up]The whole thing is an absolute shoehorn and you don't even need to look that deeply into it to cut it. Fighter Mage Thief is not for organizations, a few exceptions like the Elder Scrolls aside.

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
#28100: Jun 16th 2023 at 10:42:15 PM

[up] Already deleted since I knew that the trope being applied to organizations makes it sketchy.

Speaking of TX, there are more sketchy examples on Characters.Tokyo Xanadu Morimiya City

  • Magic Knight: Nemesis' anti-Eclipse combatants are known as Enforcers, and are expected to be highly competent in both the use of their Soul Devices and their organisation's arsenal of spells, with Enforcer training usually taking multiple years to complete. Asuka, the sole Enforcer present in the game, due to her skill and youth, is particularly noted to be under a lot of pressure from both herself and her superiors to uphold this ideal, so when she goes missing in Chapter 5, Nemesis decides to wait and see what happens rather than send in reinforcements, seeing it as an opportunity for her to prove her worth. While the Magic Knight entry, is valid I'm a bit iffy on the bolded part cause I don't remember that kind of thing being mentioned anywhere, but correct me if I'm wrong
  • Right Hand Versus Left Hand: Since Zodiac of more of a coalition than a united front, they're in danger of falling into to more unsavory behaviors, as the main plot shows. Mikuriya is able to run his Greed-controlling experiments on Rion and assist Gorou and the White Shroud with their own aims, all behind his superiors' backs using the privileges a candidate to the succession of the Hokuto Group gives him. After his plots are foiled, the rest of Zodiac comes down on him like a hammer for his betrayal. I don't see any other members of Zodiac acting like dicks aside from Mikuriya, so this more of a case of one bad apple than the trope, which is about poor communication resulting in people working against each other despite being on the same side. Though again, correct me if I'm wrong

Any other entries on the page that look shoehorned?

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A

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