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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

Avenger09 Since: May, 2014
#18876: Mar 1st 2022 at 8:46:46 PM

Noticed this a while back but wasn't sure if it applies to characters who change in the time between sequels being made.

The Longest Journey Saga

Kian Alvane

Or does it only apply to characters who've aged a number of years in-universe? Because only a few months passed between the events Dreamfall and Dreamfall Chapters.

Edited by Avenger09 on Mar 2nd 2022 at 3:02:24 PM

laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#18877: Mar 1st 2022 at 10:43:23 PM

I looked over at Same Character, But Different, the description talks more about it being a personality change than anything else. I sniffed around, but didn't see a more fitting trope for when someone offscreen levels up unrealistically fast (though I could swear that trope exists).

I guess in lieu of a better trope, this example would be fine, that's just my two cents.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
Bullman Enid Sinclair Since: Jun, 2018 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Enid Sinclair
#18878: Mar 2nd 2022 at 6:23:37 AM

So I found this on YMMV.Once Upon A Time:

The thing is that from the description, Laconic, and most examples I was under the impression that this trope was about Jerkass characters who are treated a worse than the villains by the fandom while this is just the villains getting more development than the jerks. Does that really fit the trope?

Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup thread
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#18880: Mar 2nd 2022 at 9:54:37 AM

[up][up] Yeah, that is misuse. It sounds closer to something like Tragic Villain or Likable Villain.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
Shyhero Unmotivated dyslexic writer. from Sofa Since: Jun, 2020 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Unmotivated dyslexic writer.
#18881: Mar 2nd 2022 at 12:13:44 PM

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Bullman Enid Sinclair Since: Jun, 2018 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Enid Sinclair
#18882: Mar 2nd 2022 at 12:20:19 PM

[up][up] And it's gone. I also removed the exact same entry from JerksAreWorseThanVillains.Live Action TV to be consistent.

Edited by Bullman on Mar 2nd 2022 at 2:21:04 PM

Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup thread
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#18883: Mar 2nd 2022 at 12:31:17 PM

[up][up] And what the former frustration part was? And it doesn't fit the trope anyway, it's just a new game mechanic.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
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)
#18884: Mar 2nd 2022 at 12:39:10 PM

I think the frustration part was that it was easy to fail certain shinies by mistake if you missed the sparkles, especially if the colors barely changed. But it's a ZCE as written.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
TheSinful from Apple orchard. Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
#18885: Mar 2nd 2022 at 12:40:39 PM

Question for latest patch of World of Warcraft possibly containing a case of They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot.

For the whole of Shadowlands (and arguably since its announcement), there's been speculation about where Arthas was, not only because it was an expansion about the afterlife, but the expansion also had a fair bit of retreading of Arthas's descent into evil with Anduin's story and the revelation that the Jailer (considered by many to be a discount Lich King) was ultimately behind the Scourge to begin with. It's eventually revealed that Arthas's soul was used to forge Kingsmourne, and after Anduin is purified, a tiny fragment of Arthas lasts long enough to receive a monologue from Syvlanas before fading into nothingness without a single line or even any reaction from Jaina or Uther, who are also present.

All is not lost. Not yet.
MrMediaGuy2 Since: Jun, 2015
#18886: Mar 2nd 2022 at 1:02:52 PM

From Trivia.Lindsay Ellis.

It doesn't say anything about Lindsay herself disliking the video, so it feels like the editor who added it is just saying "I didn't like this video as much as other people did".

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)
#18887: Mar 2nd 2022 at 1:03:46 PM

Plus it doesn't explain why it might not be as liked, just that... it apparently isn't for some reason.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#18888: Mar 2nd 2022 at 2:35:54 PM

[up][up][up]...You know, I hate the "They Wasted A Perfectly Good X" tropes and think they're essentially just people's fanfiction, but that actually sounds pretty damn legit.

That said, there's a dedicated cleanup thread that would be better for vetting it.

harryhenry It's either real or it's a dream Since: Jan, 2012
It's either real or it's a dream
#18889: Mar 2nd 2022 at 8:06:25 PM

[up][up][up] I haven't really seen anyone see it as one of her lesser videos, it does ring of Fan Myopia for this specific fan.

RainbowPumpqueen R A T (she/her) from Kalos Since: Apr, 2021 Relationship Status: Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!
R A T (she/her)
#18890: Mar 3rd 2022 at 12:32:43 AM

Can discussions of tropes still be put in video examples? I'm asking because there's a Kurtis Conner video where he and his friend Jacob Sharpe make fun of Sebastian Bails's usage of the "I don't mean to be offensive" excuse when it comes to his pranks about sensitive subjects that I want to add to "Just Joking" Justification.

Feel free to help with the sandbox or edit my troper wall
randomtroper89 from The Fire Nation Since: Nov, 2010
#18891: Mar 3rd 2022 at 2:32:41 AM

I removed Foxy from Leeroy Jenkins given he only fits the first part of the trope "charging in" and not the "causing problems for his teammates".

Edited by randomtroper89 on Mar 3rd 2022 at 4:33:07 AM

gjjones Musician/Composer from South Wales, New York Since: Jul, 2016
Musician/Composer
#18892: Mar 3rd 2022 at 4:33:28 AM

From RoleEndingMisdemeanor.Western Animation:

Cut or keep?

Edited by gjjones on Mar 3rd 2022 at 7:33:45 AM

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
Nightshade92 from The Big Rotten Apple Since: Mar, 2021 Relationship Status: Remembering what Mama said
#18894: Mar 3rd 2022 at 8:05:34 AM

I'm thinking of bringing Squaring the Love Triangle to TRS, but there are a few on-page examples that haven't been crosswicked yet. I'm not sure if all of them are actually good examples though, and some feedback on which ones count would be super helpful before I add them to work pages.

    Examples 
  • The Yuri manga The Structural Formula of First Love by Shuninta Amano is about a lesbian whose high school love dumped her for a guy, but her daughter from him fell in love with the protagonist, in turn. It wasn't entirely intentional, however. Not clear if the love triangle is actually resolved in the work.
  • His and Her Circumstances: Yukino and Arima's eldest daughter, Sakura, falls for Arima's best friend Asaba who has mentioned before that he would marry either, if given the choice. Not clear if the love triangle is actually resolved in the work.
  • ½ Prince: With Gui and Lan happily married, Zhuo is left to pine for Lan. Well, a good sixteen years later no more, as he gets (forcefully) engaged to LanLan, their daughter. This seems fine, just double-checking in case someone else is actually familiar with the work.
  • In Sharknado, protagonist Fin is pursued by his younger employee, Nova, though he clearly is carrying a torch for his ex-wife, April. At the end he and April reconcile (a whole six hours after her boyfriend dies!), and while it's not clear, it seems Nova is going to hook up with their son Matt, who is closer to her age. If it's just ship tease does that count as this, or does it just go under Love Father, Love Son?
  • A Song of Ice and Fire has Litterfinger developing an ever-creepy crush on the daughter of his childhood sweetheart. Please note, however, that is it acknowledged as creepy and not reciprocated. I'm not familiar enough with the books to know if Littlefinger and Sansa ever have any kind of official relationship.
  • In The Sims, this is a very common player tactic. See two sims you think look cool? Marry one now, have your kids grow up with birthday cake and marry the other. Is the example too general?
  • It is possible for Robin to marry one of the children characters in Fire Emblem: Awakening. Robin's child, Morgan, will then not be available until rather late in the game... but will eventually grow up even stronger than usual, having inherited the stat bonuses of not two, but three original-generation parents. I don't know the game at all, and don't really understand the entry. Does anyone who does know the game think it applies?
  • The same applies to Corrin in Fire Emblem Fates. Obviously a ZCE, but same question as the other Fire Emblem entry.
  • On The Cleveland Show, Rallo has a Precocious Crush on his stepbrother Junior's Girl of the Week, Chanel. Eventually we find out that Chanel and her ex-boyfriend have a daughter together, and Rallo is instantly smitten with her instead. Played With, however, because Junior doesn't wind up with Chanel, instead encouraging her to get back together with her ex-boyfriend for the sake of their daughter. I think this is just Love Father, Love Son, and that the entire last sentence should be cut anyway. Posting anyway in case someone here is more familiar with the show than I am.

Old Enough to Be Your Absurdly Youthful Mother
Zarina Since: Aug, 2014
#18895: Mar 3rd 2022 at 8:37:49 AM

On Creepy Cleanliness, this is the only example in the Real Life folder:

  • Among the various obsessions associated with OCD (and obsessive compulsive personality disorder, on a lesser degree), germophobia is one of the most common. The compulsion to wash themselves repeatedly and to keep their settings in absolute order and cleanliness usually cause uneasiness to other people. But they have no idea what creepiness goes on inside the sufferer's mind.

Aside from the weird phrasing, is this a violation of Examples Are Not General and/or does it belong on the page at all? I feel like it doesn't but wanted to check if I am being oversensitive.

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#18896: Mar 3rd 2022 at 8:50:11 AM

~Rainbow Pumpqueen: Discussed tropes can still go on video examples, but that example probably should not, as "Just Joking" Justification is at NoRealLife.Too Controversial.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#18897: Mar 3rd 2022 at 9:16:39 AM

[up][up][up][up][up][up] Was there a question or example to compare?

[up][up][up][up][up] Sounds rather speculative as written, I'd probably go with Real Life Writes the Plot instead.

[up][up][up]If the misuse is that widespread, might I suggest starting a Short Term cleaup thread.

[up][up] You are correct, that example is very general and should be cut with great vigor.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
Nightshade92 from The Big Rotten Apple Since: Mar, 2021 Relationship Status: Remembering what Mama said
#18898: Mar 3rd 2022 at 9:19:35 AM

That's the thing, I'm not actually sure what is/isn't misuse in those examples. (Also, even if every single on-page example was crosswicked, the trope would only just be out of "starving" range, so I'm not sure if an entire thread would be worth it)

Edited by Nightshade92 on Mar 3rd 2022 at 12:20:45 PM

Old Enough to Be Your Absurdly Youthful Mother
dmcreif Vault Dweller from Vault 33 (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Vault Dweller
#18899: Mar 3rd 2022 at 9:32:33 AM

In trying to do some cleanup on CelebrityParadox.Live Action TV, I'm trying to figure out if this Monk entry is an example:

  • In "Mr. Monk Goes Home Again", when Stottlemeyer and Disher are going over the police sketch of the gunman created based on the description provided by an eyewitness, Randy comments that the sketch has an uncanny resemblance to Kiefer Sutherland. In the episode immediately before this, "Mr. Monk and the Other Detective", one of the culprits in the double homicide, Vic Blanchard, is played by Kiefer Sutherland's half-brother Rossif Sutherland.

Okey Dokey!
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#18900: Mar 3rd 2022 at 9:41:29 AM

[up][up] I did look through the examples, as I'm not familiar with the anime/manga in question, I can't speak more definitively on it. Your comments do seem perfectly cromulent, so I would have no objections if you adjusted accordingly, but maybe poke around in the anime forums to see if fans would now.

[up] Definitely not an example, cut away.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me

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