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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

Bubblepig Rei from Tokyo (Apprentice) Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
#22101: Sep 5th 2022 at 9:09:29 PM

[up] and [up] [up] I think they mean attractive but I don't think it's important to the ending trope and the Hot Witch doesn't describe how the witch is hot.

Edited by Bubblepig on Sep 5th 2022 at 9:10:00 AM

"Now it's starting to feel like a game!"
ChloeJessica Since: Jun, 2020 Relationship Status: Awaiting my mail-order bride
#22102: Sep 5th 2022 at 9:15:44 PM

if the character is presented in-universe as beimg very attractive, that can definitely contribute to a happy ending imo.

gjjones Musician/Composer from South Wales, New York Since: Jul, 2016
Musician/Composer
#22103: Sep 5th 2022 at 10:22:49 PM

At one point in the second half of Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown, the Baron tells the bartender of his intentions to "get rid of" Charlie Brown and his friends from the Chateau de la Mal Voisin. Given that, does this count as a true Deadly Euphemism?

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#22104: Sep 5th 2022 at 11:05:43 PM

Unless the Baron was literally planning to kill Charlie Brown, not an example.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
gjjones Musician/Composer from South Wales, New York Since: Jul, 2016
Musician/Composer
#22105: Sep 5th 2022 at 11:08:06 PM

Ah, I see.

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
gc10 Human Bean from Pastastastan Since: Feb, 2019 Relationship Status: A cockroach, nothing can kill it.
Human Bean
#22106: Sep 6th 2022 at 4:28:31 AM

From Vikings - Franks:

  • Historical Hero Upgrade: In-universe, Charlemagne is seen by the Franks as the best guy since Jesus. While he is generally agreed to be a decent guy by historians, they also note that Charlemagne had his own unpleasant sides. Namely, his virulent hatred of his peoples' ancestral religion, megalomania (seriously, historians opine that the aforementioned Massacre of Verdun was partly because he wanted to pretend to be an Israelite king), and the general douchebaggery that comes with being a medieval European ruler. Then again, Values Dissonance and the fact that the "good guys" basically do the same sorts of things.
While this is not factually incorrect, I think this is not an example of Historical Hero Upgrade, because Charlemagne doesn't appear physically in the series. He's already dead and is frequently praised by the Franks as The Paragon, and that such people would worship a warmonger because of Values Dissonance is expected. It's not the same of Charlemagne personally appearing and portrayed in a way that omits his worst traits. Opinions?

BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#22107: Sep 6th 2022 at 7:14:39 AM

So would Film.Nope count as an example of Weird West, anyone who’s seen it? What with the Wild West theme park, and the ranch and (I’m gonna mark this as a spoiler for anyone who’s not yet seen it) the UFO that turns out to be an alien organism?

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Sep 6th 2022 at 10:14:50 AM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Libraryseraph uu~ from Canada (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: Raising My Lily Rank With You
uu~
#22108: Sep 6th 2022 at 7:28:19 AM

[up] I think so?

Any thoughts on this?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOR MARIA
Hello83433 (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#22109: Sep 6th 2022 at 10:47:19 AM

[up] I agree, I don't think it's enough to count as an example.


From Shipper on Deck:
  • In Sephiroth's storyline in Mobius Final Fantasy, Echo seems to have abandoned her crush on Cloud in favour of teasing Wol about his interest in him, suggesting Wol ask him on a date. Wol says he doesn't think Cloud would be interested because he "only has eyes for Sephiroth."
  • Golden Sun: Kraden might be at it again in Dark Dawn, since his excuse for Nowell's absence in the second half of the game is that she took a fancy to Piers, which he may or may not have encouraged.
  • If you try to express interest in Mira as a male character in Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, she points out rather bluntly that Visas and the Handmaiden are both infatuated with you and she doesn't want to have to beat them both off with a stick if she starts sharing a bunk with you. Many fans were dismayed. Additionally, Kreia teases you about your growing relationship with the two and implies that she'd prefer to see you with the Handmaiden which makes sense considering that Brianna is her daughter.

These just don't seem much like actively shipping to me? The Golden Sun one argues its validity as well.

CSP Cleanup Thread | All that I ask for ... is diamonds and dance floors
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#22110: Sep 6th 2022 at 11:40:56 AM

[up](x4) I don't feel that example counts.

EDIT: Correcting something.

Edited by RandomTroper123 on Sep 6th 2022 at 10:14:18 AM

BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#22111: Sep 6th 2022 at 11:45:30 AM

So Film.Get Out has been classified as a Horror Comedy… anyone think the same can be said of Film.Us and Film.Nope?

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
ChloeJessica Since: Jun, 2020 Relationship Status: Awaiting my mail-order bride
#22112: Sep 6th 2022 at 12:02:02 PM

for someone to be an Empowered Badass Normal, do they have to start the story as a Badass Normal and then get Empowered, or does it still count if they're Empowered before they're shown to be Badass?

AlicornGaia Fishy from Mega Man Zero Earth Since: Sep, 2019 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Fishy
#22113: Sep 6th 2022 at 4:07:37 PM

First option from the trope description I read.

"Come on Zero. Fight me. It feels so good :3"
PurpleEyedGuma Since: Apr, 2020
#22114: Sep 7th 2022 at 11:05:17 AM

Does Again with Feeling still count if it’s not the same person saying it both times? Exempli gratia:

Knives: Oh God, it’s my dad.
Scott: Oh God, it’s your dad.

Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#22115: Sep 7th 2022 at 11:06:31 AM

It's zero-context and quotes alone aren't examples, so I can't tell. It may count in theory, but it could also be like Parrot Exposition.

Edited by Amonimus on Sep 7th 2022 at 9:08:14 PM

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#22116: Sep 7th 2022 at 11:39:01 AM

Would Flintstones Chewable Vitamins or Hi-C Ghostbusters Ecto Cooler count as examples of The Merch?

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#22117: Sep 7th 2022 at 11:48:07 AM

I would say yes, those flintstone chewables were everywhere when I was growing up.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
Hello83433 (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#22118: Sep 7th 2022 at 12:16:32 PM

[up] x6 I would say yes to Nope being classified under Horror Comedy but I haven't seen Us so I can't comment on that one.

Asking again about the examples posted here.

CSP Cleanup Thread | All that I ask for ... is diamonds and dance floors
MrMediaGuy2 Since: Jun, 2015
#22119: Sep 7th 2022 at 1:13:12 PM

This is from Smiling Friends: Other Characters under 3D Squelton's folder.

  • Flat Character: Ironically enough. He loves balloons, hates lies, is sad about the state of the world... not much more to him than that.

This feels like it was added just for the sake of making a "3D character with a 2D personality" pun, because that's plenty of characterization for someone who only has a minute of screentime.

themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#22120: Sep 7th 2022 at 2:09:14 PM

[up] Agreed on all points. You can probably cut the example.

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
Marinasgold (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
#22121: Sep 7th 2022 at 4:05:45 PM

For a interview for Don’t Worry Darling, Harry Styles said that his favourite thing about the movie is that “the movie feels like a movie”. This already has caught on as a spectacle and some people snark at that line. Does this count as Memetic Mutation or not? Or is there another trope that this could go under?

Very cool video
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#22122: Sep 7th 2022 at 4:13:46 PM

Honestly, that doesn't sound like anything more than an odd line and a few laughs at it.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
Marinasgold (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
PlasmaPower Piece of Cake. Since: Jan, 2015
Piece of Cake.
#22124: Sep 7th 2022 at 7:48:56 PM

Characters.Sailor Moon Makoto Kino

  • Gag Boobs: The DiC English dub added this by accident. In the original Japanese, Makoto says she should get the lead in a school play because she has the biggest breasts. In the English dub, she now says she should get the role because she has the "most talent". Only she's still gesturing towards her boobs as she says this and she repeats the line, shoving them towards Rei, who very obviously looks down at them.

Her chest size isn't unrealistically huge. I really don't know why this was shoehorned into her page with the old dub being the justification.

Thomas fans needed! Come join me in the the show's cleanup thread!
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#22125: Sep 7th 2022 at 7:50:36 PM

It's supposed to be a visual trope, I'm really confused as to how the English dub "added it".

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

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