logical fallacy

the texas sharp shooter

Only picking the facts that support your idea while ignoring the rest.

ad hominem

Attacking the person instead of their point—like calling someone dumb instead of explaining why they’re wrong.

bandwagon

Saying something is true or good just because a lot of people think it is.

appeal to authority

Using someone famous or in charge to prove your point instead of real facts.

the gambler fallacy

Thinking past results affect random events—like thinking a coin will land on heads because it’s been tails five times.

special pleading

Making excuses or changing the rules when your argument doesn’t work anymore.

false cause

Saying one thing caused another just because they happened around the same time.

black or white

Acting like there are only two choices when there are actually more.

appeal to nature

Saying something is good just because it’s “natural,” like thinking natural foods are always better.

compostion/divison

Assuming what’s true for part of something is true for the whole thing—or the other way around.

anecdotal

Using your personal story or one example as proof for a big idea.

appeal to emotions

Trying to make people feel something (like guilt or fear) instead of using facts.

slippery slope

Saying if one small thing happens, it’ll lead to a chain of bad things—like a snowball rolling downhill.

strawman

Changing what someone said to make it easier to argue against.

genetic

Judging something based on where it came from, not on what it actually is.

tu quoque

Avoiding blame by saying the other person does it too.

burden of proof

Saying the other person has to prove you’re wrong instead of proving you’re right.

no true scotsman

Changing the definition of a group to ignore evidence—like saying “no real fan would hate this movie.”

the fallacy

Thinking someone is wrong just because they made a mistake in their argument.

personal incredulity

Saying something isn’t true just because you don’t understand it.

middle ground

Saying the truth must be halfway between two sides, even if one side is clearly wrong.

begging the question

Using your own point as proof for itself—like saying, “I’m right because I said so.”

loaded question

Asking a question that already makes someone look bad no matter how they answer.

ambiguity

Using unclear or tricky words to confuse people or twist the meaning.

false analogy

when someone compares two things that aren’t really the same in the way they need to be for the argument to work.

circular reasoning

when the speaker uses the claim itself as evidence for the claim

appeal to fear

An appeal to fear is when someone tries to scare you into agreeing with them instead of giving real reasons or evidence.

post hoc ergo propter hoc

when someone assumes that just because one thing happened after another, the first thing caused the second.

hasty generalization

someone makes a big claim based on too little evidence—usually from just one or a few examples.

Poisoning the well

someone discredits a person before they even speak, so no one will trust or believe them—no matter what they say.

Appeal to Tradition

This fallacy says something must be right or good just because it’s always been done that way.

Appeal to Emotion

This fallacy uses feelings (like guilt, fear, sadness, or pride) to get people to agree, instead of using facts or logic.

Appeal to False Authority

This is when someone uses a person who isn’t really an expert to support their argument.