Logical fallacy

Ad hominem

Attacking the person making the argument rather than the argument itself

Straw man fallacy

Misrepresenting or oversimplifying someone’s argument to make it easier to attack

Bandwagon fallacy

Assuming something is true or right because many people believe it or do it.

False dilemma

Presenting only two options as the only possibilities when more exist.

Appeal to authority

Believing a claim is true simply because an authority figure supports it.

Slippery slope

Arguing that one small action will inevitably lead to extreme, negative consequences.

Appeal to false authority

Using an unqualified person or source to support an argument.

Card stacking

Presenting only positive information about a topic while ignoring opposing evidence.

Post hoc

made or happening only after an event, not planned or decided before it happens

Red herring

diverting attention from the real issue by focusing instead on an issue having only a surface relevance to the first.

Hasty generalization

a conclusion is reached based on a very small or unrepresentative sample

Ad baculum

where an argument is based on threats or force to make someone accept a conclusion