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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

Lermis Purposefully Untitled from Out of touch with reality Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
Purposefully Untitled
#17451: Oct 14th 2021 at 2:16:04 AM

I found this listed as Situational Sword:

  • Her Human Comprehension skill boosts her ATK and DEF against Humanoid enemies for three turns. This is incredibly versatile since all Servants and a good deal of enemies (basically anything that even vaguely stands on two legs like a human) has this trait, and being a Berserker it gives her some much needed extra survivability combined with her high HP and healing, making her surprisingly quite tanky among her fellow Berserkers.

I play this game, and there's an extremely high number of Humanoid Mooks, and pretty much all the bosses in the game fall under "Humanoid" as well. Is this really a Situational Sword?

SpaceBattles.com fanworks (now oficial) index in my Sandbox.
BoltDMC Since: May, 2020
#17452: Oct 14th 2021 at 3:42:52 AM

[up] X 20. Big Jimbo, I’m all for cutting the example you put up.

Lermis Purposefully Untitled from Out of touch with reality Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
Purposefully Untitled
#17453: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:02:05 AM

[up]What would be a better match? Can't think of anything on top of my head.

SpaceBattles.com fanworks (now oficial) index in my Sandbox.
perkeez Since: Aug, 2018
#17454: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:24:00 AM

In The Incredibles, Oliver Sansweet attempts to commit suicide by jumping off a building, only to be saved by Mr. Incredible jumping off a nearby building and catching him. Is this an example of Driven to Suicide? It seems like a straightforward example, unless there's some other consideration I'm missing.

Just trying to improve any page that needs it.
miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#17455: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:25:05 AM

Wouldn't that fit Bungled Suicide better?

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17456: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:34:32 AM

Mr. Incredible did not cause that man to attempt suicide. It is also not "bungled", since nothing he did caused his attempt to fail; it was external intervention.

Edited by Fighteer on Oct 14th 2021 at 7:34:55 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
perkeez Since: Aug, 2018
#17457: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:50:05 AM

Would it be a case of Interrupted Suicide?

Just trying to improve any page that needs it.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17458: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:51:47 AM

Yes, that's the one, although the part of the description about the rescuer "finding the suicide note" shouldn't have to apply in all examples.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
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
#17459: Oct 14th 2021 at 5:31:09 AM

Remember when I brought up the Animorphs Downer Ending entry a while ago? Because since then, I've learned that it has Earn Your Happy Ending and inverted Only the Leads Get a Happy Ending entries as well. Do you think they could be combined into one Bittersweet Ending entry?

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#17460: Oct 14th 2021 at 5:38:00 AM

Nah Animorphs isn't a downer ending. Its a Bittersweet Ending.

The bad guys (Yeerks) lose and get their comeuppance. The heroes do have issues though but even they end on at least an ambigois note as they face off against their new threat (whatever happens is left unclear)

Edited by miraculous on Oct 14th 2021 at 5:38:56 AM

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#17461: Oct 14th 2021 at 6:54:18 AM

On Omniscient Morality License page I question this entry:

One Piece: Invoked and played for horror with the Celestial Dragons in One Piece. Due to their bloodline, they can do anything and get away with it, no matter how reprehensible. If you try to resist, you get killed. If you try to fight back (which wouldn't be too hard for most of the cast), even worse things will happen to you. They are, unsurprisingly, among the biggest villains in the series. 

Celestial Dragons were never implied or believed by anyone in-universe to have some good intentions or have any supernatural ability that grants them authority. They are just a case of Aristocrats Are Evil that are untouchable because of Royal Blood and some background conspiracy. Nor they are that much of Powers That Be, as they rely on Admirals to protect them.

It's rather the Marines who want the Omniscient Morality License, who justify wiping out islands with The Needs of the Many excuse as they believe it prevents crime.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
JKalver Since: Mar, 2021
#17462: Oct 14th 2021 at 7:58:08 AM

Thanks! Since she’s not following him around, I will not post the image above the stalking trope. https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cdb9adab_a706_44a7_a401_e546b220ea9a.jpeg

BoltDMC Since: May, 2020
#17463: Oct 14th 2021 at 7:59:18 AM

[up] X 10. @ Lermis. Does it need to be assigned to another trope — any reason it can't just be cut and dropped? Just wondering.

Edited by BoltDMC on Oct 14th 2021 at 7:59:31 AM

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)
#17464: Oct 14th 2021 at 12:25:25 PM

[up][up] Not to be rude, but you can't anyway, you're edit banned, right?

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#17465: Oct 14th 2021 at 12:50:25 PM

Specifically for adding bad images to pages without consensus, IIRC...

Edited by mightymewtron on Oct 14th 2021 at 3:50:36 PM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
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)
#17466: Oct 14th 2021 at 2:23:10 PM

Anyway, Creator Backlash can't be used for people who weren't the work's creator, right? I found this on Trivia.Bowling For Columbine:

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#17467: Oct 14th 2021 at 2:32:20 PM

It does extend beyond creators but the context of documentary interviewees feels more muddy. Would it fit the "Subject Backlash" draft? Stone isn't really the subject of the documentary...

Edited by mightymewtron on Oct 14th 2021 at 5:32:33 AM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
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)
#17468: Oct 14th 2021 at 2:34:43 PM

Yeah, it's backlash because there's a scene animated in South Park style. Parker wasn't a subject of the documentary at all.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Bubblepig Steve from Minecraft (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
#17469: Oct 14th 2021 at 3:29:51 PM

Had to repost it since no one responded. Ok so, I'll remove Signature Scene for ZCE and will change Wham Episode to Shocking Moments and moved it to YMMV page. Do you agree with me? For context, it's about Kitchen Nightmare episode about Amy baking company.

Edited by Bubblepig on Oct 14th 2021 at 3:30:03 AM

"CHICKEN JOCKEY!"
N1KF Alleged Number1KirbyFan (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
Alleged Number1KirbyFan
#17470: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:36:32 PM

Does Oxygen Meter apply in non-water areas where the player character's breath is limited, like on other planets or in poisonous gases? The description implies and the laconic outright states that it just applies underwater, but I could see the case being made that Tropes Are Flexible here.

Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#17471: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:40:35 PM

It is kinda weird that the trope only takes water into an account and not like poison or open space.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#17472: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:41:50 PM

I personally think it should include all forms of suffocation.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#17473: Oct 14th 2021 at 4:46:15 PM

I think this should be brought to Trope Talk / TRS right away before trying to fit in non-water examples.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#17474: Oct 14th 2021 at 6:44:58 PM

I think it should also apply to non-water examples, because the trope's name refers only to the meter itself. If there's a TRS thread about it, I'll make sure to support that change in the description.

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
Arawn999 Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#17475: Oct 14th 2021 at 9:52:30 PM

Trope: Adorable Abomination

Purported Example

* In Dial, Ruby Hale is a 14-year-old girl, raised and taught from birth to be the ideal, ruthless, heartless assassin of HYDRA's dreams. But to the veteran assassin Black Widow (and slightly to Hawkeye and Nomad), she comes off as a deadly but incredibly cute and naive puppy.

Nothing here suggests Ruby Hale is anything more than a Badass Normal human, so I'm betting the answer is no... but rather than instigate a possible edit war by just removing it I figured I'd ask here.


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