Fallacies

Scare Tactics

A fallacy of argument presenting an issue in terms of exaggerated threats or dangers

Either-Or Choices

A fallacy of argument in which a complicated issue is misrepresented on the grounds that it’s the only conclusion acceptable within a given community

Slippery Slope

A fallacy of argument exaggerating the possibility that a relatively inconsequential action or choice today will have serious adverse consequences in the future

Sentimental Appeals

A fallacy of argument in which an appeal is based on excessive emotion

Bandwagon Appeals

A fallacy of argument in which a course of action is recommended on the grounds that everyone else is following it

Appeals to False Authority

A fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the expertise of someone who lacks appropriate credentials

Dogmatism

A fallacy of argument in which a claim is supported on the grounds that it’s the only conclusion acceptable within a given community

Ad Hominem Arguments

A fallacy of argument in which a writer’s claim is answered by irrelevant attacks on his or her character

Stacking the Deck

A fallacy of argument in which a writer shows only one side of the argument or story, the one in their favor

Hasty Generalization

A fallacy of argument in which an inference is drawn from insufficient data

Faulty Causality

A fallacy of argument making the unwarranted assumption that because one event follows another, the first event causes the second; also called post hoc, ergo propter hoc

Begging the Question

A fallacy of argument in which a claim is based on the very grounds that are in doubt or dispute

Equivocation

A fallacy of argument in which a lie is given the appearance of truth, or in which the truth is misrepresented in deceptive language

Non Sequitur

A fallacy of argument in which claims, reasons, or warrants fail to connect logically; one point doesn’t follow from another

The Straw Man

A fallacy of argument in which an opponent’s position is misrepresented as being more extreme than it actually is, so that it’s easier to refute

Red Herring

A fallacy of argument in which a writer changes the subject abruptly or introduces an irrelevant claim or fact to throw the reader off

Faulty Analogy

A fallacy of argument in which a comparison between two objects or concepts is inaccurate or inconsequential

Paralipses

A fallacy of argument in which the person will claim they won’t bring up a subject but bring it up by mentioning that they won’t