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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

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#16501: Jul 17th 2021 at 6:34:05 PM

On Toy Story 3:

  • Angst Aversion: This movie is notorious for being very depressing to watch. It has everything from a brutal dictatorship to child abuse, to the inevitable prospect of a slow and sad death. The list goes on. As mentioned below, it gets so dark and grim at times that a number of fans were genuinely afraid Pixar wouldn't save their iconic toys from a violent demise by incineration. It's not for nothing that this movie is often called (even by ''professional film critics) one of the top ten "movies where grown men cry."

This entry doesn't explain why these subjects make people avoid the film. I know I personally don't rewatch this one because it's too distressing and dark for my taste, but most people I know seem to adore it for being an emotional rollercoaster. So am I the outlier, or do enough people stay away from this movie, even if it's not the majority, to make the entry valid?

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#16502: Jul 17th 2021 at 7:39:42 PM

I don't think it fits. The dramatic tone of the movie was largely because of the high stakes, and if anything I've seen more people thinking of the tone as a highlight. That's just my perspective, though.

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
selkies TOO serious! from Guess, guess, guess Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
TOO serious!
#16503: Jul 17th 2021 at 8:05:23 PM

Isn't this the point of YMMV? Obviously, not everyone is gonna be turned off by the depressing tone of a work, but if a good number of people did mention this specifically as the reason they didn't watch toy story 3, then it fits.

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.
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#16504: Jul 17th 2021 at 9:00:07 PM

I'm just curious if anybody else actually felt that way, because I know I do, but my opinion probably doesn't make a YMMV page, and it'll be hard to rewrite the entry with proper context if I don't know what the general reasoning is for that mindset.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
MasterHero Since: Aug, 2014
#16505: Jul 18th 2021 at 1:31:10 PM

Okay, I deleted the parts of the Captain America article referencing How It Should Have Ended because I believe they are unnecessary and often kind of insulting towards the greater history of Captain America. Look, just because other pages have references to parodies doesn't mean this particular page should have references to a parody, especially since this particular parody is not of the affectionate kind. Oftentimes, the How It Should Have Ended parodies come off as "I can do a much better job than people getting legally paid to do this stuff", and I think that comes off as disrespectful towards the official creators. I think that, for now at least, we should stick to the official materials.

Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#16506: Jul 18th 2021 at 5:40:51 PM

Would the following examples from Divorced Installment count as Speculative Troping?:

Ditto these examples from Dolled-Up Installment:

And is this example also from Divorced Installment being misused, since trivia items cannot be played with, and even if they could I’m not sure how it would count as a subversion?:

  • Horribly subverted by the fan creation rules of Star Trek. According to rule 9, once a fan film starts in the concept of a Star Trek fanwork, it can essentially never be divorced from the original franchise, even if the actual franchise imagery and terms are removed and replaced.

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
#16507: Jul 18th 2021 at 8:29:26 PM

[up] Those all sound like speculation to me, and Divorced Installment is misuse because of the "no Playing With trivia items" rule.


Do buildings with round exteriors but only have square/rectangular rooms inside of them count as Bizarrchitecture, or do we have something that fits better?

Edited by Vandagyre on Jul 18th 2021 at 8:29:59 AM

Cave Johnson, we're done here.
Oshawott337 Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
#16508: Jul 18th 2021 at 8:51:59 PM

Are non-romantic examples allowed under Crash-Into Hello? The description and such describe it as a type of Meet Cute and explain it as a romantic trope, but there are plenty of clearly not romantic examples listed under it.

Edited by Oshawott337 on Jul 18th 2021 at 9:53:15 AM

"Let’s see who’s stronger: someone that has something to protect, or someone that has nothing to lose."
selkies TOO serious! from Guess, guess, guess Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
TOO serious!
#16509: Jul 18th 2021 at 10:07:48 PM

It's def a trope meant only for romantic examples, but now that you brought it up, I think it should include non-romantic examples, as well.

What are some of these platonic examples? Let's see.

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.
Merseyuser1 Since: Sep, 2011
#16510: Jul 19th 2021 at 1:42:24 AM

Does this qualify as Filler?

I created the subpage Filler.Festive Filler about Christmas Episode examples that were filler, but should this be Cut List 'd or kept?

StFan Since: Jan, 2001
#16511: Jul 19th 2021 at 4:49:05 AM

This example on Bone looks like an extreme shoehorn to me. Is there a more fitting trope?

  • Imagination-Based Superpower: An uncontrollable example. Whenever one passes through the Rat Creature temple, their worst nightmares come to life. When the Bone Brothers passed through the first time, the Lord of the Locust manifested as a rather nasty version of Kingdok. The second time, Fone Bone and Phoney were instantly dressed like characters out of Moby Dick.

Adept (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
ejmenendez Since: May, 2015
#16513: Jul 19th 2021 at 9:47:12 AM

This was recently added on Guilty Gear under Fan Nickname:

  • After the consensus agreed that he was the worst character in the game, some have derisively referred to Strive Faust as Laust.

While the character is Low-Tier in the game, this seems more like a Detractor Nickname due to it being stated to be derisive, which I think we're trying to avoid.

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
#16516: Jul 19th 2021 at 1:42:24 PM

I'm confused about whether an example about pigeons that are the size of horses would go under the "other examples" section of Giant Flyer or just be on Animals Not to Scale because the two tropes have some overlap in regards to large birds, but there's no defined relationship between them. If it helps, the only narrative significance of the giant pigeons is to help demonstrate how unusual life on the island they live is.

Cave Johnson, we're done here.
JRads47 Since: Nov, 2014
#16517: Jul 19th 2021 at 2:12:18 PM

From Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - 76 to 82:

  • Foil:
    • To Ryu. Both are the face of their respective franchises, wear mostly white with some red, and use karate-based martial arts, but that's where all the similarities end. Neither man is a stranger to the other, with crossover appearances in Namco × Capcom, Project × Zone and Street Fighter X Tekken to boot.
      • While Ryu comes from a 2D/2.5D fighter, Kazuya comes from a 3D fighter.
      • In Street Fighter, the depiction of martial arts is exaggerated and within the realm of fantasy, with flying kicks, energy balls and rocketing uppercuts being par for the course. On the other hand, Tekken's roster is based around real-world martial art techniques, with supernatural traits like Kazuya's Devil Gene shenanigans being reserved for fewer characters.
      • Ryu is undoubtedly the Hero Protagonist of Street Fighter while Kazuya is designed to subvert this and turns out to be the Villain Protagonist of Tekken, even becoming the Big Bad in later installments.
      • Part of Ryu's character arc is his quest to purge his Superpowered Evil Side, the Satsui no Hado, from within him, leading to the What If? character Evil Ryu, should he fail to do so. Kazuya, on the other hand, embraces the power of the Devil Gene and even incorporates its abilities into his moveset in both Tekken and Smash.
    • He is one to Terry Bogard, the fighting game character of Fighter Pass 1. As with Ryu, both are the faces of their franchise and wear primarily white and red. Terry is much more upbeat in contrast to the more stoic Kazuya. Terry was Happily Adopted by Jeff Bogard, while Kazuya wishes to kill his own father, Heihachi, after he threw him into a ravine as a child. Terry is a good father to his adopted son Rock Howard, while Kazuya's son Jin wishes vengeance upon his father. Finally, both fighters have a bad habit of having their main enemy fall from a larger height, though this is accidental with Terry, and very much intentional with Kazuya.
    • He is a foil to both Street Fighter characters and Terry in that their content is focused on older games in their series, while Kazuya references the latest installment in his series, Tekken 7, more, such as having 7's announcer announce his victories, his home stage explicitly hailing from that game and having his suit from that game rather than his previous purple suit as an alt.
    • Kazuya is one to Sephiroth:
      • They are both third-party villains from Japanese games, whose battle style involves transforming into a different form and are among the strongest beings in their respective franchise with a complicated family history. However, Kazuya was an Anti-Hero in his original appearance and only graduated to full villain later on, whereas Sephiroth was a villain in his first appearance and any sympathetic qualities came later.
      • Sephiroth transforms into his angelic One Winged Angel state during battle, while Kazuya transforms into his Devil Gene form.
      • Sephiroth is a sword fighter with a wide arsenal of fantastical, magical tricks, while Kazuya is a hand to hand combatant with a lot of realistic martial arts moves (and some occasional Devil Gene tricks).
      • Sephiroth's default outfit is his jacket and his alternate costumes have him shirtless, Kazuya is perpetually shirtless and only wears a business suit as some of his alternate costumes.
      • Gameplay-wise, Sephiroth has multiple attacks which highlight his effectiveness at mid-range, and while he is more mobile, he's one of the lightest fighters on the roster. Conversely, Kazuya excels at close-range combat, and while he may be sluggish, he's also one of the heaviest.
    • Believe it or not, he is this to both Bowser and Bowser Jr. of all characters. While a villain, Bowser has a good relationship with his own son. The same can't be said for Kazuya, whose relationship with his own father and son has been antagonistic and nothing else.

Given the lack of plot found in Smash, do they really count as examples of foils?

Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#16518: Jul 19th 2021 at 2:51:13 PM

[up][up]Not familiar with the work, but the two can overlap in this case; Giant Flyer is not a subtrope of Animals Not to Scale because it also includes fantastic animals.

[up]Reading that requires too much brainpower at the moment, but remember that Foils have to interact to count. "This character is similar to another one" ain't it.


A majority of the characters on Characters.Never Have I Ever have Brainy Brunette listed. However, the cast is full of people of color (mostly Asian-American, some African-American) so dark hair is the norm. In addition, some of these PO Cs are not book-smart. Remove?

Edited by Synchronicity on Jul 19th 2021 at 7:14:02 AM

nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#16519: Jul 19th 2021 at 4:58:39 PM

Brainy Brunette may need a run by the appearance tropes cleanup at some point. I think it is a thing, but like a lot of these hair color tropes it's ripe for misuse.

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#16520: Jul 19th 2021 at 6:38:03 PM

I think it only ever really stands out in contrast to Dumb Blonde, or when the only really smart character is brunette.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#16521: Jul 19th 2021 at 7:11:45 PM

Has anybody else seen Big Mouth and can attest whether this example of The Unfair Sex is actually right?

  • The best example might be the “Hump and Dump” incident and its aftermath. Andrew shouldn’t have done that to Lola, but throughout the episode he was clearly terrified of her. She bullied him into being her boyfriend, insisted they French kiss in the school hallway when he was obviously uncomfortable with it, made him change his plans and come over to her house, and was the one who initiated the “front grinding”. He finally decides they have to break up when she exhibits mannerisms identical to his emotionally abusive father. And in response she breaks his wrist, indicating that he was right to be afraid of her. She does not respect him or his boundaries, insults him to his face, isolates him from his friends, and doesn’t try to develop any kind of emotional connection, so her interest in him is as physical as his is in her, the only difference being that she wants it to be ongoing instead of a onetime thing. He is depicted as the bad guy.

It's true that Andrew is depicted as a skeeze, but Lola is also depicted as a horrible girlfriend (even if this arc also gives her some Hidden Depths and makes her sympathetic). The fact comparisons are drawn in the narrative to Andrew's father, who is depicted as a dick, makes it clear to me that Lola is not meant to be superior to Andrew here.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
gjjones Musician/Composer from South Wales, New York Since: Jul, 2016
Musician/Composer
#16522: Jul 19th 2021 at 8:55:33 PM

From Mirage's section in Characters.The Incredibles:

  • Sequel Non-Entity: Due to the untimely passing of her voice actress, Mirage was not included in the sequel in any way, despite playing an important role in the first film.

Is this a valid example or should it be removed?

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
selkies TOO serious! from Guess, guess, guess Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
TOO serious!
#16523: Jul 19th 2021 at 9:24:03 PM

Well, the on-page Sequel Non-Entity lists a few examples of dead actors, so I guess it's valid.

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.
Twiddler (On A Trope Odyssey)
#16524: Jul 19th 2021 at 10:38:56 PM

[up][up][up] I'd want to hear details on how "He is depicted as the bad guy" instead of taking someone's word for it. You say he's depicted as a skeeze, but that says nothing to me about whether he is depicted as the bad guy — bad things can be shown happening to bad people in ways intended to make us sympathize with them, like "yeesh, even they don't deserve that."

Edited by Twiddler on Jul 19th 2021 at 10:39:06 AM

WhirlRX Since: Jan, 2015
#16525: Jul 19th 2021 at 10:42:58 PM

From what i can remember from Big Mouth, Andrew was treated in the wrong while Lola was treated as in the right.


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