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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.


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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

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?
#30076: Dec 8th 2023 at 1:07:39 PM

You'll probably have better luck with Hindsight questions in the dedicated thread.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
NitroIndigo ♀ | Small ripples lead to big waves from West Midlands region, England Since: Jun, 2021 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
♀ | Small ripples lead to big waves
#30078: Dec 8th 2023 at 2:18:07 PM

@Malady: [tup] for cutting the general example.

WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#30079: Dec 8th 2023 at 2:35:43 PM

I'm going to bump my query. In Die Hard, pretending to be terrorists and making demands of the FBI and CIA is far too serious to be an Infraction Distraction, that's a terrible crime. This is an example of Smokescreen Crime.

Edited by WillKeaton on Dec 8th 2023 at 3:38:59 AM

RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#30080: Dec 8th 2023 at 2:42:55 PM

[up](x3) That sounds like it doesn't count as Marry Them All since it doesn't seem to involve marriage.

[up]Smokescreen Crime sounds like a better fit than Infraction Distraction to me too for the reasons you stated.


Bumping.

WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#30081: Dec 8th 2023 at 2:57:29 PM

[up] Thank you.

As to your query, my first instinct is that it isn't cheating if there are no rules saying you can't do something. Something like a reality TV show feels like a grey area which may or may not say what you can and can't do, at least for the big meta game ie, making alliances or strategies. I'm sure the individual challenges for rewards and stuff is more clearly defined, though.

JHD0919 (Life not ruined yet)
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#30083: Dec 8th 2023 at 4:15:47 PM

[up][up]You're welcome and thanks for responding to my query.

[up]Glad I could help.

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
#30084: Dec 8th 2023 at 5:28:10 PM

Bumping this and this.

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A
Diesel Konstruktor Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Abstaining
Konstruktor
#30086: Dec 8th 2023 at 9:26:23 PM

[up] Agree that it's a stretch to call it Discard and Draw. In my view, this trope is something that happens within the bounds of the plot/game mechanics. In this case, the change in stats is caused by something external (a developer's patch) rather than something internal to the game (like a powerup or ability).

Kuruni (Long Runner)
#30087: Dec 9th 2023 at 12:31:04 AM

This entry from YMMV.Gunarm Dyne

Is it count as a valid example? Can the creator's friends counted as fan comunity?

dArtagnanMusic Since: Oct, 2022
#30088: Dec 9th 2023 at 7:05:23 AM

[up]Does the fanabse use that nickname often?
In the main installements of the H-Game Taimanin Asagi franchise, Kurenai shinganji is explicitly called the Child Of Rape of the vampire Edwin Black, with Felicia calling her her "half-sister" more than once. The Tamer and Chaster spinoff Action Taimanin keeps Kurenai's nature as a half-vampire and the backstory of Edwin Black having destroyed her clan (and thus Kurenai's burning hatred of him) but never explicitly calls her "Black's daughter" or any similar title.
Would that still qualify as Ambiguously Related?

Edited by dArtagnanMusic on Dec 9th 2023 at 7:06:40 AM

AnoneMouseJr Since: Nov, 2010
#30089: Dec 9th 2023 at 9:23:38 AM

Wondering if this actually fits... it's not during the recording of an event, but it helped shape a later sound.

  • Serendipity Writes the Plot: As described in his autobiography Cash: The Autobiography, when Johnny Cash served in the Air Force and was stationed in Landsberg, Germany, he tended to play music with three other airmen as the Landsberg Barbarians. They recorded their performances on tape, but while playing one back once, Cash found himself listening to "a haunting drone full of weird chord changes". He eventually figured out that "the tape had gotten turned around somehow, and I was hearing Barbarian guitar chords played backward." The sound stuck with him and would later be worked into the melody of "I Walk the Line".

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.
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#30090: Dec 9th 2023 at 12:03:17 PM

[up](x6) I agree those The Fool & With Great Power Comes Great Insanity entries are misuse for the reasons you gave. I think the Harmful Healing & From the Mouths of Babes entries are misuse too; they seem to lack healing and a child saying plus knowing things kids gen don't know. Hence, I feel all those entries can be cut.

[up](x3) I don't think a creator's friends count as a fan community. Still, if the work's fans use that nickname, then I feel the Fan Nickname entry counts.

[up][up]I don't think it's hinted enough that they're related to count as Ambiguously Related in AT itself. Plus, sometimes characters can be related in an adaptation but not in another.

[up]I think that might work as something else, but I don't believe it works as Serendipity Writes the Plot as that involves a Real Life setback and I wouldn't call that a setback.


I'm having second thoughts about this entry from Characters.Brickleberry Main Characters:
* Entitled Bastard: Malloy continually calls Ethel a slut and generally treats her like shit. He still expects her to let him live with her in the governor's mansion if she is elected governor despite putting on a clear Bitch in Sheep's Clothing act. Even worse, he had the audacity to become upset when she politely declined his advances.
The problem is that it was more as part of a scheme rather than entitlement. For more context, Malloy is shown to be manipulative throughout the series and wanted to move into the governor's mansion. Therefore, he was trying to persuade Ethel (who was running for governor) into doing so. EDIT: It's also notable that the series doesn't have the best continuity either.

Are those good enough reasons to remove the example or should it stay?

Edited by RandomTroper123 on Dec 21st 2023 at 11:42:59 AM

dArtagnanMusic Since: Oct, 2022
#30091: Dec 9th 2023 at 12:05:07 PM

[up]There's still the matter of Kurenai explicitly being described as a half-vampire, and Edwin black being the only male vampire we know of within AT itself.

RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#30092: Dec 9th 2023 at 12:11:30 PM

[up]Oh, then I think it might count then.

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
#30093: Dec 9th 2023 at 4:24:35 PM

Idk if these are misuse so asking here

EvenEvilHasStandards.Video Games

It doesn’t describe whether the mafia is disgusted by the actions. Also the example was improperly indented before I fixed it.

HeroWithBadPublicity.Video Games

  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero: A more literal case than most, as part of the issue is the press downplaying the actions of the SSS. The police have a bad reputation in Crossbell because of Corrupt Politicians holding them back. Meanwhile, the Bracer's Guild is much more well regarded, which led to the creation of the SSS to compete with the Bracers. While Lloyd and the SSS are treated well by the people they talk to, the police and legislature are another matter.

The trope is about a hero being disliked by the general public. This seems more like in-universe slander.

TookALevelInBadass.Video Games

The trope is about someone who isn’t combat oriented becoming more combat oriented (or at least stronger and braver). Not sure if someone, who was once a Glass Cannon (someone who is strong but has middling health), counts.

Edited by Ayumi-chan on Dec 9th 2023 at 8:28:42 PM

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A
Lord-Jaric Since: Feb, 2015
#30094: Dec 9th 2023 at 4:25:41 PM

Made a fanfic page for the Jak and Daxter story Torque (Jak and Daxter), there are a few examples I'm not sure if they count.

  • Irony: While taking care of the Kid, Keira and Daxter figure they have to call him something. They go through a list before seeing his neckless being the seal of the House of Mar. So, they decided to come him Mar, not knowing that is his actual name.
  • Stable Time Loop: An interesting example, there is a lot of indication in the story that things should have been playing out like they did in canon, being an actual case of a stable time loop. Why they haven’t in this story is unknown at this time. The Oracle does tell Keira that she must complete the loop.
  • Uncanny Valley: Kor, a seemingly harmless old man, has this effect on Keria right away. Their first meeting is just passing each other but the way he looks at Keira sends shivers down her spine.

Bubblepig Steve from Minecraft (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
#30095: Dec 9th 2023 at 5:17:21 PM

Found what appears to be ZCE and Natter in Lucy.

  • Wham Line: What makes it so terrific is the casual and throw-away way she states it. Yep, just solved 3-4 millennia of religious study and strife. Nope, don't really care what that means for you.
    Lucy: We never really die.

I don't know what the op means and it doesn't explain what makes it a Wham Line. So what do they mean by "Nope, don't really care what that means for you" and what to do with it?

Edited by Bubblepig on Dec 9th 2023 at 5:18:29 AM

"CHICKEN JOCKEY!"
Vandagyre I think I just got AC team loyalty from Dacardia (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
I think I just got AC team loyalty
#30096: Dec 9th 2023 at 6:02:22 PM

[up] I'm guessing that "Nope, don't really care what that means for you" refers to the hypothetical reader's beliefs about the afterlife, but I agree that the example isn't that coherent. If you don't feel up for writing a better explanation for how the line ties into life after death, delete it.

Cave Johnson, we're done here.
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)
#30097: Dec 9th 2023 at 6:41:10 PM

That doesn't feel like a proper Wham Line unless it's meant to imply its on some weird meta level.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
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)
#30098: Dec 9th 2023 at 6:45:43 PM

Accidental double, ignore

Edited by WarJay77 on Dec 9th 2023 at 9:46:02 AM

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
harryhenry It's either real or it's a dream Since: Jan, 2012
It's either real or it's a dream
#30099: Dec 9th 2023 at 6:46:58 PM

Does Special Effect Failure count for bad audio recording? This example was recently added to YMMV.Diary Of A Wimpy Kid:

  • Special Effect Failure: As a result of the voices being recorded during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the audio quality tends to be all over the place. Susan gets hit by this the worst, as a lot of her lines sound like they were recorded over a video call.

AnoneMouseJr Since: Nov, 2010
#30100: Dec 9th 2023 at 7:17:25 PM

[up](x10): "I think that might work as something else, but I don't believe it works as Serendipity Writes the Plot as that involves a Real Life setback and I wouldn't call that a setback."

Mm.

Any idea what trope would fit it then? Because I'm drawing a total blank, and none of the tropes listed on Real Life Writes the Plot fit with it. And I haven't found anything that resembles a "real life chance event inspires an aspect of a later work" trope.

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.

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