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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

holygrail24 Shadow Ranger from Toronto Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Desperate
Shadow Ranger
#32276: Jul 30th 2024 at 4:15:53 PM

Is this a correct example?

From Kobayashi's entry on Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid – Kobayashi Household.

  • Contrasting Sequel Main Character: Kobayashi is a contrast to her predecessor Kaoru from I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying. Both are Office Ladies who work at a company. Appearance, Kaoru has a long blonde hair (once purple) and is noticeably bustier, while Kobayashi has a short orange hair tied in a small ponytail and is flat-chested. Kaoru is a stereotypical Office Lady, while Kobayashi is a stereotypical Salaryman who dresses as a male office worker and is a computer programmer. Likewise, Kaoru likes her duties and has a Benevolent Boss, while Kobayashi's approach as one is a mixed bag at the very least (initially), due to her boss's Bad Boss abusive attiude. Kaoru is Happily Married to Hajime, who is virtually her opposite in many ways, while Kobayashi is unmarried and a bachelorette.

The Metro series fan! Steam Account: Randum
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#32277: Jul 30th 2024 at 4:31:23 PM

[up][up] I don't know about that one. Deadpool does indeed idolize Wolverine, but he makes sexual jokes about everything. The idea that Wade views Logan as a potential lover doesn't seem to match the textual content of the movie.

If the trope example is simply that they see each other very differently, then yeah.

Edited by Fighteer on Jul 30th 2024 at 7:32:05 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
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)
#32278: Jul 30th 2024 at 4:33:19 PM

I don't really even recall him acting like Wolverine would be an ideal lover; it's definitely just Wade's brand of comedy. Besides, everyone in that movie sexualized Logan lol

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#32279: Jul 30th 2024 at 5:07:37 PM

I know I will get told by another troper (Usually War Jay, this is usually how this goes) that isnt the thread to bring this up...

...

But is it really Dub-Induced Plot Hole, REALLY there if the dub was cancelled halfway and it never adapted the parts that would have resulted in the plot hole?

We all know by now not adapting Crocus and Little Garden would create plot holes so huge it was for the best the 4Kids dub of One Piece was cancelled halfway through.

So I think this a kosher example, this isnt an actual example from the page, but put it here so I can add it.:

  • In an effort to remove all traces of Enel being G-d, Chopper wonders how can a King be evil and if such a thing is possible in the Cartoon Network broadcast... Ignoring that he suffered under an evil King in his backstory.

And this isnt:

  • Plot holes that would have happened if the 4Kids dub lasted longer:
    • The Straw Hats' knowing the giant whale Laboon turns out to be the primary reason Brook decides to join them; the 4kids dub ended before he had the chance to appear.
    • Meeting the Elbaf Giants, Dorry and Broggy, on Little Garden provided the motivation for Usopp to finally start improving himself. It's also how he convinced the Gatekeeper Giants of Enies Lobby (Season 5) to turn on the World Government and briefly team up with the Straw Hatsnote The giants were former members of the Elbaf Pirate crew. When they were caught by the Marines, the Marines lied that Dorry and Broggy had been caught too, but if the Giants served as Gatekeepers for 100 years, the Marines would let them all go. Learning via Usopp that Dorry and Broggy were just fine and they'd wasted over half a century of their lives made them instant and very angry allies., that later scene didn't show up in the 4kids dub.

Edited by AegisP on Jul 30th 2024 at 5:08:35 AM

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
Aisaac123 “Cause i'm a punkrocker, yes i am” from México Since: Jun, 2024 Relationship Status: All I Want for Christmas is a Girlfriend
“Cause i'm a punkrocker, yes i am”
#32280: Jul 30th 2024 at 5:17:32 PM

So, i added a In Name Only trope for the Michael of Lucifer (2016):

In Name Only: Thanks to Adaptational Villainy, he has none of the original Archangael Michael's virtues and acts more like Satan than Lucifer himself does.

Does it count?

How does this Site works?!
Tacoyogo Since: Aug, 2022
#32281: Jul 30th 2024 at 5:42:40 PM

On Amphibia: Main Characters on Anne's folder:

This trope is about a character who is babied and treated special because of their childlike demeanor, not just the youngest in general. For anyone who's seen the show, they'd know Marcy is The Baby of the Calamity Trio, regardless of being older than Anne.

holygrail24 Shadow Ranger from Toronto Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Desperate
Shadow Ranger
#32282: Jul 30th 2024 at 6:48:19 PM

Bump

The Metro series fan! Steam Account: Randum
ForgoLight The Ultimate Lifeform Since: Oct, 2022 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
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?
#32284: Jul 30th 2024 at 6:57:09 PM

[up][up]Is that really a sequel? I don't think it is.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
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.
#32285: Jul 31st 2024 at 5:40:33 AM

I’ll take out that Deadpool & Wolverine example then. Next question: does the movie qualify as an example of The Epic? It has large scale stakes and set pieces… surprising characters…

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Jul 31st 2024 at 8:40:48 AM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#32286: Jul 31st 2024 at 6:32:39 AM

I feel like that's misuse of the concept. D&W is about "saving the world", sure, but the narrative focus is tightly on its two leads and their particular issues.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
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.
#32287: Jul 31st 2024 at 8:33:37 AM

Okay. One more question. Is the giant Ant Man corpse being used by the villains as a base an example of Giant Corpse World?

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#32288: Jul 31st 2024 at 8:57:50 AM

Might be a downplayed example, but it's definitely not a "world" by any literal definition. Okay, so the trope doesn't require that it be an entire planet, but it does need to be a landscape.

Edited by Fighteer on Jul 31st 2024 at 11:58:38 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
VolkovTheTerrible Since: Aug, 2023
#32289: Jul 31st 2024 at 9:06:12 AM

got, redirected here from the ask page. I am having a little bit of trouble categorizing Qimir from The Acolyte as a character I don't know where he fits better, expy, mirror character or Suspiciously Similar Substitute. Despite the blatant similarities between him and Kylo Ren, his whatever with Osha being an intentional parallel to Reylo, and even using Kylo's leitmotif for Qimir, i found nowhere that Qimir is a character inspired by Kylo. My next choice is mirror character to Kylo, but they are not part of the same show, live at the same time, or interact, so I don't know if this trope allows such example. And the last one, Suspiciously Similar Substitute, while Qimir fits some of the rules, he is not exactly replacing any previous character within the same show like the trope requires. A little help, please?

ArthurEld Since: May, 2014
#32290: Jul 31st 2024 at 9:14:09 AM

As i mentioned, he just isnt any of those three tropes. There might not be a single trope that covers his thematic similarities to Kylo, and thats totally ok.

Master-Geass Since: Feb, 2021
#32291: Jul 31st 2024 at 1:06:25 PM

holygrail24 That could only be an example if Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid and I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying share a universe or otherwise meant to be connected. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the latter.

Check out Bunny Girl Evolution
SamCurt Since: Jan, 2001
#32292: Jul 31st 2024 at 1:13:06 PM

[up] This author's generally becomes The 'Verse— I suppose that means it is, then?

Scientia et Libertas | Per Aspera ad Astra Nova
Reymma RJ Savoy from Edinburgh Since: Feb, 2015 Relationship Status: Wanna dance with somebody
RJ Savoy
#32293: Jul 31st 2024 at 2:06:22 PM

From Berzerk:

  • Take That, Audience!:
    • Exit a screen before killing every robot and they chastise you for it. "Chicken! Fight like a robot!"
    • Do it enough times in a row, and the robots start calling you "the chicken" instead of "the humanoid" in their background chatter.

We have a trope about mocking the player for choosing easy, but I don't know if it applies here, since this is about tactics rather than selectable difficulty. But is it Take That, Audience! in the context of an interactive game responding to the player's actions? Or would it fit under I Shall Taunt You?

Edited by Reymma on Jul 31st 2024 at 10:48:29 AM

Stories don't tell us monsters exist; we knew that already. They show us that monsters can be trademarked and milked for years.
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#32294: Jul 31st 2024 at 2:18:38 PM

Feels like Cowardice Callout not necessarily directed at the player.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
Nejiiuyn Kaiser der Anonymität from The Mysterious Beyond Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Kaiser der Anonymität
#32295: Jul 31st 2024 at 2:34:41 PM

Does the trope Inter-Service Rivalry apply if the two services are from different countries fighting the same war as allies. Such as a WWII rivalry between the British Royal Air Force and the US Army Air Force?

My treasure? If you want it, you can have it! Search for it! I left in that place!
holygrail24 Shadow Ranger from Toronto Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Desperate
Shadow Ranger
#32296: Jul 31st 2024 at 3:06:15 PM

[up] 4x

Yes, Cool-Kyou Shinsha's works all take place in the same universe.

Edited by holygrail24 on Jul 31st 2024 at 6:06:32 AM

The Metro series fan! Steam Account: Randum
MsOranjeDiscoDancer 2much2furious from the Saja Boys' last performance! Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Will you go out with me to the End?
2much2furious
#32297: Jul 31st 2024 at 3:37:12 PM

does an example only count when it is subtext?

in Monkey Man, the main villain is a Sinister Minister who has a handsome attendant decked out in gold despite his preachings of asceticism and it is implied the attendant is at best there to be eye candy.

the villain also makes a show of his aseticism but loves living in luxurious high rises where drugs and prostitutes are freely distributed and he is implied to take part in some of them, and definitely lets his underlings partake in those vices

said villain has massacred at least one village that is implied to be full of minorities and encourages pogroms against other minorities in India, like trans people

the villain represents a fundamentalist far-right Hindu party, and fundamentalist Hinduism is homophobic as hell

is this enough to qualify for Depraved Homosexual?

i may be dead inside but at least i have Mystery :,)
Libraryseraph uu~ from Canada (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: Raising My Lily Rank With You
uu~
#32298: Jul 31st 2024 at 4:05:26 PM

No, not only is it just implied but depraved homosexual is a specific archetype of someone whose evil and sexual deviancy is defined by their gayness. Maybe implied Armored Closet Gay

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOR MARIA
gjjones Musician/Composer from South Wales, New York Since: Jul, 2016
Musician/Composer
#32299: Jul 31st 2024 at 6:48:12 PM

Reposting from the previous two pages so it doesn't get lost.

From RoleEndingMisdemeanor.Anime And Manga:

While I trimmed down the example as this particular sub-page talks about anime and manga, the sentence regarding "OK KO" was re-added. Given that, does this sentence count?

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
king15 Have Faun Since: Mar, 2024
Have Faun
#32300: Jul 31st 2024 at 7:15:33 PM

On MCU: Tony Stark is this trope (some of the spoilers were there before, but I've added more posting it here for the sake of avoiding spoiling people):

  • All for Nothing: Sort of, but given that Tony sacrificed himself just to bring back half of the universe with Peter being his main motivation, the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home somehow caused his sacrifice to be in vain because 1. Tony's firing of Quentin Beck inadvertently caused him to target and frame Peter for murder, 2. Peter eventually tries to get help from Doctor Strange, only to get cold feet and rip open the Multiverse, and 3. in the end, Peter has Doctor Strange erase everyone's memories of him. To add insult to injury, Peter's Stark Industries properties are seized by Damage Control and there's no telling what happens to Pepper and Morgan.

Stark's decision to sacrifice himself was likely made easier by the fact that it would save Peter. However, regardless of the danger and tragedy that befalls Peter in the next 2 Spider-Man films, this doesn't make Stark's sacrifice in vane because Peter is still alive. Everyone's memories might be gone of Peter, but he's still alive, so Stark's sacrifice isn't All for Nothing even in regard to just saving Peter. And, regardless of the "Sort of" at the start of this entry, I don't think his sacrifice counts as All for Nothing because, even if you consider it All for Nothing in regard to Peter, he still did it mainly to bring back half the universe, something that he succeeded in and remains the case in the franchise. Peter was likely a large motivation, but there's nothing to say he was the only reason Stark made his sacrifice, or that he wouldn't have made it without Peter's life on the line. The aim of Stark's sacrifice was to bring back half the universe, including Peter, and since neither has been undone, I don't think his sacrifice counts as even "sort of" All for Nothing.


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