TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Is this an example?

Go To

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

laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#24076: Nov 25th 2022 at 6:37:57 PM

Prissy and Mammy are two separate characters played by Butterfly McQueen and Hattie McDaniel respectively. I had forgotten (for shame!) about McDaniel when I made my comment above.

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
#24077: Nov 25th 2022 at 9:58:44 PM

This is from Trivia.Teasing Master Takagi San:

  • Studio Hop: The first season of the anime was licensed and streamed by Funimation and Crunchyroll, before switching to Netflix for the second season, and then Sentai Filmworks for the third season.

Since Channel Hop is for when a program hops between different channels/networks or different studios, and the first and third seasons of the anime have been respectively released on home media in North America by Funimation/Crunchyroll and Sentai, is this considered a valid example?

Edited by gjjones on Nov 25th 2022 at 1:21:12 PM

He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#24078: Nov 25th 2022 at 11:48:40 PM

[up]Channel Hop just seems to involve networks and channels, so I don't feel home media-related entries count.

ElRise I fix my examples all the time from The Dying City (Life not ruined yet) Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
I fix my examples all the time
#24079: Nov 26th 2022 at 3:49:08 AM

Found this example in ShrinkingViolet.Fan Works.

First, I don't see how the above context fits the trope. Second, the amount of sinkholes is staggering. Fix or cut?

Graffiti Wall
ReynTime250 Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#24080: Nov 26th 2022 at 10:42:32 AM

So I've gotten into a discussion with Black Yakuzu 94 about this trope that I deleted about The End from Sonic Frontiers, and I believe both of us would really like to not get into an Edit War.

This whole enemy is very much so a spoiler btw

  • Generic Doomsday Villain: Downplayed. While it has a slight manipulative side, it doesn't show off much personality besides craving destruction.

I'm gonna say that I truly don't think it counts. It has a large speech at the end that talks about how evil it is, making it a Card-Carrying Villain as well as how powerful it seems to be, and has moments of Evil Cannot Comprehend Good in its speech and is shown to taunt Sonic (it also has a Villainous Breakdown after its defeated where it blows itself up in attempt to defeat Sonic and Sage). Before it's revealed to be a villain, it also tells Sonic to free its friends and defeat the titans in a rather polite manner, and shows to be intelligent enough to exploit Sonic's lack of knowledge and Sonic's desire to save Tails, Amy and Knuckles, showing that it's highly manipulative.

I truly believe that its speech and intelligence gives it just enough of characterization for it to not qualify as a GDV, just as a Flat Character.

Here's the speech

The End: Mortal, you have served your purpose. Now face your End. I am the all-consuming void. What can one mote of golden light illuminate within the abyss? Countless stars. Countless worlds. Countless lives. All fell to me, all brought to nothing. All the teeming chaos of creation? Brought to order. To neutrality. To nothing. I saw your mind as you ran through my prison. You have fought machines and gods. They were mighty. They were finite. I am Infinite. I am nothing. You struggle as so many have done before. You will be consumed like all those before you. I saw your mind. Your courage never wavered. Why? Arrogance? Ignorance? Stupidity? I was contained, once. Once. Is that why? My captors bent time and space. My captors built a whole reality to contain me. My captors burnt their souls away to fuel their engines. And you? You glitter; you fly above me like a gnat. I am inevitable, I cannot be denied. You strike this incarnation with all your might. It changes nothing. You are not brave; you are not victorious. No matter what form I take... The End comes for you all!

Edit: Forgot to mention, that the troper I was discussing this with is banned from the forums, so he can't come on this thread.

Edited by ReynTime250 on Nov 26th 2022 at 11:23:56 AM

Agentofchaos A God Am I from Somewhere in the Universe Since: Dec, 2021
#24081: Nov 26th 2022 at 10:47:27 AM

[up]Wasn't there some Trope Talk on Generic Doomsday Villain about misuse and conflicts with Complete Monster? I don't know whatever came from that

"We'll meet again" | 🏳️‍⚧️
ReynTime250 Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#24082: Nov 26th 2022 at 10:50:33 AM

[up] Yeah, I think so. I know the rules for GDV changed a while ago, with villains like The Shadow Queen, MCU's version of Dormammu and Malekith now being allowed for Complete Monster status when before they were originally considered as GDV's.

This isn't entirely about that, considering the threads shut rn (This villain may get brought up there when the threads active), but I don't really think it counts as a GDV because it isn't a mindless, sapient being. It knows what it's doing and has a little bit of characterization.

Edit: Alright, I found the old TRS thread about Generic Doomsday Villain.

Edited by ReynTime250 on Nov 26th 2022 at 10:56:23 AM

SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#24083: Nov 26th 2022 at 2:09:05 PM

From the main pgae of The Witch Boy:

  • Deliberate Values Dissonance: Charlie is the only person who's openly cool with Aster being a witch, if only because as a Muggle, she has no frame of reference for what magical folk would consider "normal" or "proper." Furthermore, she has two fathers and chafes at the gender segregation of her school's sports, further compelling her to sympathize with Aster for being "different."

This sound more like Your Normal Is Our Taboo or something similiar to my. Thoughts?

Valdo
Agentofchaos A God Am I from Somewhere in the Universe Since: Dec, 2021
#24084: Nov 26th 2022 at 2:15:02 PM

On The Owl House - Amity Blight:

Amity isn't evil, she was just a bully, can I cut it?

"We'll meet again" | 🏳️‍⚧️
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#24085: Nov 26th 2022 at 2:17:59 PM

[up] She also not obliviously to the thing she does. I say, cut it.

Valdo
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.
#24086: Nov 26th 2022 at 2:50:46 PM

Okay, I just can out of an early screening of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish so I’m going to spoiler tag this one:

The Black Forest will change its appearance and landmarks based on what is in the heart of whoever holds the map to the wishing star. Puss, who is fearful of losing his last life, gets a firey Death World. Kitty, who just wants someone she can trust, gets a sorrowful swamp. Perrito, who is happy-go-lucky and doesn’t have a wish, gets a peaceful path full of flowers. Goldilocks, who just wants to find a family of her own, gets a recreation of the Three Bears’ cottage in an effort to show her that they were her true family the whole time. Sounds like a Fisher Kingdom to me!

Also, I think we can call the Black Forest an eldritch location, due to the aforementioned changing of the landscape and the characters getting the sense it doesn’t want them to reach the wishing Star.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#24087: Nov 26th 2022 at 2:53:37 PM

If it's an early screening, wouldn't it be best to wait until the movie comes out abroad?

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
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.
#24088: Nov 26th 2022 at 2:58:40 PM

I brought this up on the unreleased works thread. Early screenings are fine, as it means they were available to the public, albeit temporarily.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
CSS1 Since: Mar, 2021
#24089: Nov 26th 2022 at 3:29:29 PM

Should I bother listing someone as The Ghost if they eventually make an appearance (i.e. Unseen No More)?

moo
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#24091: Nov 26th 2022 at 4:05:01 PM

[up] Generic Doomsday Villain are, according to the trope page: "defined solely by the threat they pose." and "never does anything particularly evil, or even much of anything." They can have personality and motives, yes. But the goal is always something like Take Over the World.

Edited by SoyValdo7 on Nov 26th 2022 at 6:05:10 AM

Valdo
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)
#24092: Nov 26th 2022 at 4:06:12 PM

The Generic Doomsday Villain is an overpowering antagonist with no clear motive or plan behind their actions. They're one of the most basic story villains possible. The reason that they're so generic is that they are a Flat Character with a minimum of characterization. Their Establishing Character Moment is generally the most development that they get, designed to show the audience what sort of threat that they're facing. The character may or may not provide an explanation of their Evil Plan, but their overall goal is some sort of Apocalypse How, providing the "doomsday". At the very least, they plan on destroying the people within the town/country that the heroes are from.

Are you sure about that?

Edited by WarJay77 on Nov 26th 2022 at 7:06:21 AM

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#24093: Nov 26th 2022 at 4:07:09 PM

[up] its from the PlayingWith.Generic Doomsday Villain

Edited by SoyValdo7 on Nov 26th 2022 at 6:07:22 AM

Valdo
laserviking42 from End-World Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
#24094: Nov 26th 2022 at 4:08:25 PM

Playing With pages, like laconics, aren't authoritative definitions.

I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
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)
#24095: Nov 26th 2022 at 4:08:46 PM

Pages like that aren't always reliable. GDV recently went through TRS, so that might not be accurate anymore.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#24096: Nov 26th 2022 at 4:09:30 PM

[up](x7) From my understanding of The Ghost, it stops counting if the character is eventually seen.

[up](x6) I agree that it has too much characterization to count as a Generic Doomsday Villain. I also feel it has too much characterization to count as a Flat Character; FCs have a couple personality traits from my experience (EDIT: at least).

Edited by RandomTroper123 on Nov 26th 2022 at 5:47:38 AM

Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#24097: Nov 26th 2022 at 4:26:43 PM

Suggesting adding to the pinned post tips to work only with the trope's actual description, and not secondary sources like examples and subpages.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#24098: Nov 26th 2022 at 5:47:59 PM

I feel this entry from Recap.My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic S 2 E 19 Putting Your Hoof Down is shoehorning. What do you all think?

* He Who Fights Monsters: After Fluttershy insults her friends and realizes that she's become the monster. Also alluded to when she sees her own reflection in the mirror with Iron Will's horns transposed on top of her head.
For the record, I feel it's shoehorning because she doesn't become a villainess and turning evil seems to be part of the trope. For the record, she was just acting like an assertive Jerkass. Even without that, it lacks context because it doesn't describe the part about the character becoming like the evil they previously faced.

Edited by RandomTroper123 on Nov 26th 2022 at 5:48:20 AM

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
#24099: Nov 27th 2022 at 12:54:46 AM

Is this Existential Horror, Psychological Horror, or Cosmic Horror Story?

  • Bad Press: Starscream proposes that the reason humans write fanfiction about Depecticons that places them in human-like scenarios is because on some instinctual level humanity understands that the Decepticons are far more powerful than they could ever be, and it terrifies them. In the grand scheme of things, there's very little stopping said Decepticons from bringing their full incomprehensible strength down upon the Earth; humans attempt to humanize them through writing in an effort to assuage their own fears, despite having no way of knowing what the Decepticons are actually capable of.

Cave Johnson, we're done here.
Ayumi-chan 3rd happiest man in Connecticut from Iacon City (Experienced Trainee) Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
3rd happiest man in Connecticut
#24100: Nov 27th 2022 at 1:19:08 AM

Found this in Trails Series Erebonia Ironblood (spoilers for Trails into Reverie ahoy!)

  • Important Haircut: The first time Rufus is shown without his "C" mask, he's show to have cut his hair short in order to fit into his mask.

Iirc, Important Haircut should have the person cut their hair in story to show their Character Development. Since Rufus likely cut his hair before Reverie starts it probably fits Expository Hairstyle Change, but Im asking here to be sure my intuition is correct.

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A

Total posts: 36,649
Top