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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

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17851: Nov 22nd 2021 at 11:31:52 AM

Yeah, that could work. If it turns out there was actually a reason, then it would be a subversion according to our definitions. Just remember that a subversion requires the audience expectation that the trope will be played straight.

Many superhero stories play around with this by having people In-Universe be surprised and/or dismayed that the character can't be hurt, but we all know what the deal is so it's not a surprise to the audience.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Merseyuser1 Since: Sep, 2011
#17852: Nov 22nd 2021 at 2:20:59 PM

Does this YMMV from YMMV.The Blacklist count as "Funny Aneurysm" Moment:

  • "Funny Aneurysm" Moment: "The Cabal", also known as "The Fulcrum" In-Universe, who appeared in Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, seemed like a subject of Satire of a world government in 2014, but as of 2020-2021 COVID-19 Pandemic and the conspiracy theory of "The Great Reset", with Q Anon-type conspiracy theorists believing that a cabal engineered the COVID-19 Pandemic and the "You will own nothing and be happy in 2030" theory, this now seems a lot darker than when it was around 2013-2014 and 2015-2017 in the series. Made especially more shocking by the fact that conspiracy theorists online are spreading this misinformation and theory quite a lot across social media.

And from YMMV.Peep Show:

  • Hilarious in Hindsight:
    • In "Seasonal Beatings", Mark comments that his present for Dobby which he ordered online hasn't arrived in time. With this episode Having been filmed in September 2010, the creators had no idea that come December, many Christmas presents ordered online really did fail to reach people on time due to the unusually large snowfall.
    • In S3E4 (2005), Mark states to himself that Big Suze "probably got a title." As of 2009, her actress Sophie Winkleman's formal title is "Lady Frederick Windsor."

Edited by Merseyuser1 on Nov 22nd 2021 at 10:22:38 AM

BlurryDawgo Bork ribs with extra beef from here to eternity Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: That's rough, buddy
Bork ribs with extra beef
#17853: Nov 22nd 2021 at 2:32:48 PM

So I've been told to come here if I wanted to argue that Dr. Eggman from the Sonic the Hedgehog series was an example of Faux Affably Evil as opposed to plain genuine Affably Evil. Here's the link to an ATT post I already made about it, so please read: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/query.php?parent_id=106197&type=att

Sends me into hyperspace, when I see her pretty face…
Tomodachi Now a lurker. See you at the forums. Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Now a lurker. See you at the forums.
#17854: Nov 22nd 2021 at 3:08:15 PM

I have read it, and agree with your conclusion.

Keep in mind that the Sonic entries were written a long time ago, and the tropers of yore mixed info with an adaptation or two ( the Sonic X version of Eggman is an affable nice guy, compared to his game version). I tried fixing a bunch of those entries.

A second opinion would be much appreciated.

Edited by Tomodachi on Nov 22nd 2021 at 3:08:50 AM

To win, you need to adapt, and to adapt, you need to be able to laugh away all the restraints. Everything holding you back.
gjjones Musician/Composer from South Wales, New York Since: Jul, 2016
Musician/Composer
#17855: Nov 22nd 2021 at 6:50:46 PM

Reposting from the previous pages.

From Characters.Toy Story Lotso:

  • 0% Approval Rating: While Lotso rules Sunnyside Daycare, there is not a single toy that likes him. Even his own minions serve him out of fear, and eventually turn against him when his abuse and nihilism go too far.

Is this a valid example or should it be under Hated by All?

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#17856: Nov 22nd 2021 at 10:36:19 PM

Why wouldn't it be? He seems like an authority figure.

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#17857: Nov 23rd 2021 at 12:56:40 AM

Yeah its fine.

He is the leader of Sunnyside..

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
Merseyuser1 Since: Sep, 2011
#17858: Nov 23rd 2021 at 3:54:15 PM

This example from Soft Reboot seems to have issues with its POV and language, it may be an example, but is it too generic or not specific enough:

  • Arguably, a Soft Reboot happens whenever a new writer is chosen for a long-running comic book, such as those starring Superman and Batman. When the previous writer finishes his/her run, they try to conclude as many plotlines as possible so that the new writer can have a clean slate to work with. While the new writer is not obligated to reference anything from the previous run, they occasionally do so if it compliments the current story.

Edited by Merseyuser1 on Nov 23rd 2021 at 11:54:35 AM

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
#17859: Nov 23rd 2021 at 5:40:06 PM

Examples Are Not Arguable either, so we'd yeet that

Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.
Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#17860: Nov 23rd 2021 at 9:34:18 PM

Reposting from the previous pages:

Is it me or would this example from Transformers: Energon seem like it would fit better under Pop-Culture Urban Legends:

  • Common Knowledge: It's a popular rumor that Starscream in the original Japanese version is a clone (probably stemming from how he is renamed to "Nightscream" only in Japan) and that the dub changed him to the same character as his Armada self. In actuality, even the original dialogue refers to "Nightscream" as one of Megatron's past soldiers and Alpha Q just gives him a new name, meaning he's a revived Starscream there too.

And from the same page can one work qualify as a Dork Age?:

  • Dork Age: Beyond simply being regarded as an inferior sequel to Armada (by both the show's fans and detractors), it's regarded as the worst TF show period, due to wasted potential, terrible CGI, and very poor dubbing.

N1KF Alleged Number1KirbyFan (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
Alleged Number1KirbyFan
#17861: Nov 23rd 2021 at 11:25:56 PM

Do games with vector graphics count as Vector Games? The page mostly references arcade-style retro or retraux graphics, but lots of games heavily use vector graphics in other ways (mainly Web Games and Mobile Games). I'm unsure if such a thing would be notable, but we do have pages for things like Side View and Isometric Projection.

Hello83433 (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#17862: Nov 24th 2021 at 11:16:12 AM

[up] The page does say that any game that uses vector graphics counts, so I assume so.

Any other opinion on what to do with The issue I brought up here?
The heavy disagreement on Anders' methods is what puts him out of The Extremist Was Right territory for me. So would it be a better fit for Well-Intentioned Extremist? The example seems to fit under the first and/or third types (the problem is the means and/or consequences) just based on in-universe reactions to his "solution". I think moving it would work, but would like more consensus before doing or not doing anything.

Edited by Hello83433 on Nov 24th 2021 at 8:33:53 AM

CSP Cleanup Thread | All that I ask for ... is diamonds and dance floors
WhirlRX Since: Jan, 2015
#17863: Nov 25th 2021 at 6:15:16 AM

Does this count for I Can Still Fight! for Kenny Omega.

  • As mentioned by multiple sources and Kenny himself, he has been wrestling with multiple injuries including a hernia and shoulder injury in AEW from 2019-2021. Not only that, he also has vertigo that he developed in 2018. It wasn't until the end of 2021 that he decided to get surgery since he wanted to finish the feud with Adam Page that has been developing for 2 and half years.

Edited by WhirlRX on Nov 25th 2021 at 9:16:58 AM

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17864: Nov 25th 2021 at 6:32:02 AM

No, because that is describing the real-life person (I presume) rather than the character that has been crafted for their wrestling appearances.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Malady (X-Troper)
#17865: Nov 25th 2021 at 9:06:20 PM

[up] - On that note, do the Overly Long Name for the real name of Music/-s, count?


For That One Boss, does it count if people seem to just be using the wrong tactics?

Control: I had no big problem with Mold-1 and FORMER because I specialized in Launch instead of the Service Weapon, because the SW deals a lot less damage / second than a Launched object?

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17866: Nov 26th 2021 at 3:49:20 AM

[up] Overly Long Name allows Real Life examples, therefore there is no literal reason why the real names of actors/wrestlers/musicians could not be included. That said, long RL names don't have any narrative intent, so it seems to be a distraction, especially on wrestler pages where they tend to draw a lot of confusion between the real people and their personas.

That One Boss is a subjective trope. What matters is the overall experience of players. Just because there's a tactic that people can learn doesn't make the boss any less of a roadblock if those tactics are substantially different from what the player has been taught up to this point.

Edited by Fighteer on Nov 26th 2021 at 6:50:31 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
DarklingArcher from behind you Since: Feb, 2020 Relationship Status: Singularity
#17867: Nov 26th 2021 at 5:05:05 AM

Does Wingding Eyes apply when the character's glasses/goggles do the trick instead? For example Salty and Blueberry from their respective Friday Night Funkin' Game Mods display on their eyewear the note arrow they are currently playing.

Time is subjective.
Orbiting Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
#17868: Nov 26th 2021 at 7:18:03 AM

I think that definitely counts under Tropes Are Flexible, since its the same artistic technique.

Afterword (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#17869: Nov 26th 2021 at 8:04:51 AM

From The Great British Bake Off

  • Artistic License – Chemistry: Kim-Joy of series 9 used Indian black salt in her vegan quiches to give them an egg-like flavour, but mistakenly referred to the salt as smelling of sulphur, even though sulphur is actually odourless - the smell comes from compounds.

I feel like the association of sulphur with the eggy scent is considered common knowledge to the point that pointing out its inaccuracy is kind of nitpicky, but I'm on the fence over whether that disqualifies it as an example.

magnumtropus Since: Aug, 2020
#17870: Nov 26th 2021 at 8:08:20 AM

Isn't The Great British Bake-Off a reality show. In that case, wouldn't Artistic License not be applicable?

Libraryseraph uu~ from Canada (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: Raising My Lily Rank With You
uu~
#17871: Nov 26th 2021 at 8:10:33 AM

[up][up] Not only is that a reality show and artistic license isn't applicable, it's just a really weird nitpick.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOR MARIA
Afterword (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#17872: Nov 26th 2021 at 8:13:22 AM

Alright, I went ahead and removed it.

Malady (X-Troper)
#17873: Nov 26th 2021 at 8:33:02 AM

Verber Creature... I wonder... Hmm...

But they're not a species in and of themselves. They're more a job?

The Description says: "When a creature has not been formally studied, an easy way to classify them is by what they do (as we do this to humans as well i.e. teacher, programmer, farmer, etc.)"

So does it count?

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
TheUnsquished Filthy Casual from A youngun between two oldies Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Filthy Casual
#17874: Nov 26th 2021 at 9:24:01 AM

The Commando story "Bomb New York!" was reprinted in 2015 under the title of "Target Ahead!" because of 9/11. Would this count as bowdlerisation or something else?

(Annoyed grunt)
Merseyuser1 Since: Sep, 2011
#17875: Nov 26th 2021 at 10:39:38 AM

Would this example from Johnson and Friends fit the trope:


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