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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

Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#15976: Jun 1st 2021 at 10:18:20 AM

It's an example, but as written it's a Zero Context one. So it's treated as any other ZCE (ie. commented out).

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
#15977: Jun 1st 2021 at 10:24:11 AM

[up][up]Nope, that's a ZCE.

Edited by wingedcatgirl on Jun 1st 2021 at 12:24:33 PM

Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.
MrMediaGuy2 Since: Jun, 2015
#15978: Jun 1st 2021 at 11:00:36 AM

Visp changed an example on YMMV.Helluva Boss from this:

  • Misaimed Fandom: Some fans see Stella in the right for being so angry at Stolas for cheating on her, as adultery is greatly frowned upon in the real world. This ignores the fact that, as mentioned in Alternative Character Interpretation, it's implied Stella is less angry at Stolas for cheating and more for sleeping with a "lower" species in the form of an imp, which in turn implies that their marriage was arranged and they never truly loved each other. It's also implied at the end of "Loo Loo Land" that their marriage was bad long before he slept with Blitzo, further supporting this. Some fans Take a Third Option by saying that while they understand how bad the marriage situation is, this still doesn't excuse adultery. However, with Episode 5 revealing that she hired a hitman to kill him, she doesn't have much of a leg to stand on anymore.

To this

The latter forgets that, despite all his issues, Stolas is still supposed to be somewhat sympathetic and has redeeming qualities such as the love for his daughter, whereas Stella has no redeeming qualities and is portrayed as completely unlikeable, to the point where she even attempts to murder him.

Edited by MrMediaGuy2 on Jun 1st 2021 at 11:00:57 AM

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#15979: Jun 1st 2021 at 11:14:53 AM

[up] Sounds like both of those entries could exist, though the new one better fits Draco in Leather Pants. Just because Stella's not right doesn't mean Stolas is right either.

Edited by mightymewtron on Jun 1st 2021 at 2:15:32 PM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
underCoverSailsman Peeks from Under Rocks from State of Flux Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Peeks from Under Rocks
#15980: Jun 1st 2021 at 11:44:06 AM

@Syncro Re:EIBIT and Flyover Country- Thanks for the hint, but I don't think that it really skews that way. Some Characters seem to think of it as a part of Flyover Country, but the narrative... less so.

Does Portmantitle include existing portmanteau words, or only if the Author coined the term for the work? I found this:

I'm also not sure that "Nevermore" is really a portmanteau as we generally mean the term, as Mirriam-Webster claims that it has been in use since the 12th century, at least.

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#15981: Jun 1st 2021 at 11:57:58 AM

A compound word is not a Portmanteau, from what I know. A portmanteau sacrifices letters in the combination.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#15982: Jun 1st 2021 at 11:59:35 AM

There's also the famous "Quoth the Raven, nevermore".

Edited by Synchronicity on Jun 1st 2021 at 1:59:42 PM

underCoverSailsman Peeks from Under Rocks from State of Flux Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Peeks from Under Rocks
#15983: Jun 1st 2021 at 12:07:47 PM

[up]Oh, I'm aware of the raven, but poetry can get away with one-off nelogisms. He didn't coin it, though —it's a perfectly normal word, if a little dated at this point.

[up][up]Good point. I think that you may be right. Wikipedia's entry states that a portmanteau is "Made of parts of other words."

I think that entry is going away.

Edited by underCoverSailsman on Jun 1st 2021 at 2:08:18 PM

Arawn999 Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#15984: Jun 1st 2021 at 5:03:10 PM

Any verdict on whether this counts?

BlackFaithStar [Hiatus til March] from 🇲🇾 (UTC plus 8) (Less Newbie) Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
[Hiatus til March]
#15985: Jun 1st 2021 at 6:58:21 PM

Currently fixing grammar and other stuff on Characters.Bo Boi Boy Bo Boi Boy Elements and there's this:

  • Parental Abandonment: Somewhat subverted. He was sent to live with his grandfather due to his parents being extremely busy with work. Eventually he is sent there to live permanently and is quite happy, though he remarks that he does miss his parents, but that he understands that their job is important.

From what I understand, Rule 8 on Administrivia.Tips Worksheet says examples cannot be partially subverted. Could I please get some feedback on how this example would play out? (Is it actually this trope or a different one, and where would it go on the Playing With scale?)

For extra context, BoBoiBoy's parents are never seen throughout the show's franchise for almost a decade (since 2011). 2019 finally introduced Mechamato as his father in The Stinger of BoBoiBoy The Movie 2. Regardless, in the original series (2011-2016), his parents were known as ambassadors who travelled far away frequently, and that's why he was sent away to his grandfather so often that his parents simply allowed BoBoiBoy to live with him.

When you're alone I'm reaching out to let you know that you're far from strangers, like the savior
Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#15986: Jun 1st 2021 at 7:02:04 PM

[up][up]"Accidentally near-lethally wounded in a fight" doesn't seem like "last act of benevolence to let the hero escape/win". Unless she did it on purpose for Adora's benefit it doesn't read like an example.

[up]It counts as Parental Abandonment with the context that his parents are so absent they never show up and may as well be dead (to the narrative). Also Raised by Grandparents.

Edited by Synchronicity on Jun 1st 2021 at 9:03:07 AM

Arawn999 Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#15987: Jun 1st 2021 at 7:27:37 PM

[up] I'd argue it's at least invoked. Catra — challenged to do one good thing with her life — saved Glimmer fully expecting Horde Prime to kill her and Adora to leave her for dead. She also did so because Adora was already en route to save Glimmer, and Catra didn't want to risk her falling into Horde Prime's hands given that her powers are the key to a superweapon with the power to raze the universe. However, instead of killing her, Horde Prime decides to brainwash her and Adora came to save her anyway.

Catra being fatally wounded wasn't an accident, either — Horde Prime tried to force her to kill herself by jumping off a raised platform, and electrocuted her when she resisted.

Edited by Arawn999 on Jun 1st 2021 at 7:43:40 AM

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#15988: Jun 1st 2021 at 7:29:28 PM

Is this Tempting Fate or Gilligan Cut?

  • It's Always Spooky Month: When Skid says Kevin isn't with them, Monster says Kevin is an adult and he'll be fine on his own. Cut to six hours later and Kevin is hopelessly lost in Zardy's cornmaze.

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#15989: Jun 1st 2021 at 7:40:01 PM

[up][up] I thought you were referring to the Catra vs. Adora fight in the example as Villain's Dying Grace (I don't know the work, I only respond to the contexts given here ¯_(ツ)_/¯). If you are actually just referring to saving Glimmer, then subverted when she survives the encounter, then you don't need all that other context.

[up]There is no reason it can't be both; the descriptions mention they often hand in hand (a Gilligan Cut is a common way to visualize that fate has been tempted)

Edited by Synchronicity on Jun 1st 2021 at 9:40:35 AM

TheMountainKing Since: Jul, 2016
#15990: Jun 1st 2021 at 7:45:35 PM

[up][up][up] I don't think that example counts because Villain's Dying Grace happens when the villain is already dying, and decides to do one good thing first. From your description it sounds like Catra was fine, but expected to be killed for saving Glimmer, which more of just a straightforward Heroic Sacrifice, which is subverted when she isn't killed.

Edited by TheMountainKing on Jun 1st 2021 at 10:46:16 AM

Arawn999 Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#15991: Jun 1st 2021 at 8:01:09 PM

[up] In that case, Shadow Weaver's example — which was already on the page — doesn't count since she sacrifices herself to save Catra and Adora from a monster; and Doctor Octopus' example — which provides the page quote — doesn't count either, since he sacrificed himself to destroy the miniature sun he'd created.

In fact, if we're going to strictly adhere to "the villain must already be dying", then there's a number of examples that don't really fit, like Accelerator in the Anime & Manga section.

Edited by Arawn999 on Jun 1st 2021 at 8:09:26 AM

TheMountainKing Since: Jul, 2016
#15992: Jun 1st 2021 at 8:11:41 PM

[up] Okay, then those aren't examples either, at least not as the trope is currently written. The trope description is pretty clear that the villain must do something because they are about to die, not die because they did something good. To quote: "This isn't quite a Heroic Sacrifice or Redemption Equals Death — they would have died anyway".

Edited by TheMountainKing on Jun 1st 2021 at 11:12:46 AM

BlackFaithStar [Hiatus til March] from 🇲🇾 (UTC plus 8) (Less Newbie) Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
[Hiatus til March]
#15993: Jun 1st 2021 at 8:42:43 PM

@ Synchronicity: Hm, maybe BoBoiBoy counts as a downplayed example to both Parental Abandonment and Raised by Grandparents. I'll write the examples to explain.

  • Parental Abandonment: Downplayed, BoBoiBoy's parents are never seen throughout the series, but they are alive and well. They sent BoBoiBoy to live with his grandfather due to being extremely busy with work. Eventually he is sent to live there permanently and is quite content. Although he remarks that he does miss his parents, he understands that their jobs as ambassadors are important.

  • Raised by Grandparents: Downplayed, BoBoiBoy only visited his grandfather, Tok Aba, during the holidays, before he eventually came to live with him. They had trouble recognising each other in the first episode but had maintained a close bond nonetheless. From Season 2 onwards, BoBoiBoy permanently lives with him since his pre-teenhood and onwards.

When you're alone I'm reaching out to let you know that you're far from strangers, like the savior
YourIdeas Since: Mar, 2014
#15994: Jun 1st 2021 at 8:52:33 PM

Would a character in a Strategy RPG that is capable of flight be an example of Video Game Flight? I couldn't find a trope for 'Party Member that can fly' and this seemed like the closest one.

Merseyuser1 Since: Sep, 2011
#15996: Jun 2nd 2021 at 5:26:29 AM

This entry from WesternAnimation.The Mask is a bit of a mess, not sure how to sort this out into something more readable:

  • Captain Ersatz: Quite often, usually ranging from lawyer-friendly cameos to shout-outs
    • Much of the main cast may also count, as happened with The Real Ghostbusters, none of them really look like the actors who played them, with only Charlie, Doyle and Peggy really getting anywhere close. This may have been to avoid paying for likeness rights. It's also possible that since the animated Ace Ventura (whose series ran in the timeslot following the Mask and even crossed over with it in an episode of each) actually was a clear caricature of Jim Carrey they wanted to make them distinct from each other.
      • Perhaps the funniest part of that is the fact Stanley looks quite a bit like Peter Venkman from The Real Ghostbusters.
    • Lonnie the Shark's biker gang may be an expy of the Dreadnoks from G.I. Joe. They even have Australian accents and one looks like a fat version of Torch.
      • Or rather, two of them do. Two members of the gang use the same character model. One is colored just like Torch's original toy, the other colored like Torch's animated appearance.
      • It's worth noting that this series was animated by Sunbow, the same company that created the G.I. Joe series that premiered in 1985.
      • The concept for Lonnie the Shark and his biker gang is inspired from Biker Mice from Mars; Lonnie's resemblance to BMFM's main antagonist Lawrence Limburger is a real giveaway.
    • Pretorius resembles Eugene Rapaz, a drug dealer from the original comics.
    • Walter may be this to the Walter from the comics. They look the same and both never speak, but cartoon Walter is indestructible whereas comic Walter can bleed when injured, and even likes to cut himself just to freak people out. He's also tough but not indestructible as Big Head was able to subdue him with electricity.
      • Comic Walter worked for Eugene Rapaz and cartoon Walter worked for Pretorius. See the entry above.
    • Putty Thing is a dumb teenager version of Clayface from Batman: The Animated Series.
    • Another that crosses the line between this and a mythology gag, while Lt. Kellaway doesn't even come close to resembling his film counterpart, he's practically a dead ringer for Kellaway from the comics.

Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#15997: Jun 2nd 2021 at 9:56:35 AM

Is this example from Moonbase 8 being used correctly, as it seems to be focusing more on complaining about a different work, rather than explaining why this work won over audiences?:

Delibirda from Splatsville Since: Sep, 2020 Relationship Status: I wanna be your dog
#15998: Jun 2nd 2021 at 9:57:26 AM

Pretty sure that is misuse anyway. Cut.

Edited by Delibirda on Jun 2nd 2021 at 6:58:23 PM

"Listen up, Marina, because this is SUPER important. Whatever you do, don't eat th“ “DON'T EAT WHAT?! Your text box ran out of space!”
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#15999: Jun 2nd 2021 at 11:32:15 AM

It's low context if nothing else.

Edited by mightymewtron on Jun 2nd 2021 at 2:32:31 PM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
Aleistar Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
#16000: Jun 2nd 2021 at 6:50:45 PM

Is this entry from All-Star Superman misuse? Seems more like What Could Have Been, imo.

Executive Meddling: Ideas show up here from a 1998 pitch made by Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, and Mark Millar years ago for a bold revamp of Superman (the execs ultimately went for a more conservative revamp). Naturally, Waid's Superman: Birthright and Millar's Superman: Red Son also borrow some from this pool of inspiration.


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