Logical fallacies

Ad hominem

attack the person not the argument

Ad ignorantiam

assuming something is true because it has not been proven false

Ad misericordiam

Pity or sympathy is used as evidence

Ad nauseam

trying to prove something by saying it again and again

Ad populum/numeram

popularity or numbers are treated as proof of truth

Ad verecundiam

An inappropriate or unqualified authority is used as proof

Circulus in demonstrando

The conclusion is used as proof itself

Cum hoc

two things occur simultaneously are assumed to have a cause and effect relationship

Dicto simpliciter

A general rule is applied to every particular case

Bifurcation

Only two choices are presented when other possibilities exist.

Fallacy of composition

assuming what is true of the part is true of the whole

Post hoc

A caused B simply because A happened before B

Red herring

introducing irrelevant facts to distract from the question at hand

Straw man

putting words into someone’s mouth

Tu quoque

defending one’s error in one’s reasoning by pointing out your opponent made the same error

Complex question

a question which implicitly assumes something by construction