15 Common Types of Logical Fallacies

AP Language & Composition

Ad Hominem

Attempts to invalidate an opponent's position based on a personal trait or fact about the opponent rather than through logic.

Red Herring

Attempt to shift focus from the debate at hand by introducing an irrelevant point

Straw Man

Argues against an exaggerated, inaccurate version of the opposition rather than their actual argument

Equivocation

Statement crafted to mislead or confuse readers or listeners by using multiple meanings or interpretations of a word or simply through unclear phrasing

Slippery Slope

Arguer claims a specific series of events will follow one starting point, typically with no supporting evidence for this chain of events

Hasty Generalization

Statement made after considering just one or a few examples rather than relying on more extensive research to back up the claim.

Appeal to Authority

Arguer claims an authority figure’s expertise to support a claim despite this expertise being irrelevant or overstated

False Dilemma (false dichotomy)

Claims there are only two options in a given situation. Often, these two options are extreme opposites of each other, failing to acknowledge that other, more reasonable, options exist.

Bandwagon Fallacy

Arguer claims that a certain action is the right thing to do because it’s popular

Appeal to Ignorance (burden of proof fallacy)

Claim that something must be true because it hasn’t been proven false. It can also be a claim that something must be false because it hasn’t been proven true.

Circular Argument

One that uses the same statement as both the premise and the conclusion. No new information or justification is introduced.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

Arguer justifies their decision to continue a specific course of action by the amount of time or money they’ve already spent on it.

Appeal to Pity

Attempts to sway a reader’s or listener’s opinion by provoking them emotionally.

Causal Fallacy

One that implies a relationship between two things where one can’t actually be proven

Appeal to Hypocrisy (tu quoque fallacy)

Rebuttal that responds to one claim with reactive criticism rather than with a response to the claim itself

Ad Hominem

“Katherine is a bad choice for mayor because she didn’t grow up in this town.”

Red Herring

“Losing a tooth can be scary, but have you heard about the Tooth Fairy?”

Straw Man

“Erin thinks we need to stop using all plastics, right now, to save the planet from climate change.”

Equivocation

“Laws can be repealed by the government. The laws of physics are laws. Therefore, the laws of physics can be repealed by the government.”

Slippery Slope

“If we allow students to retake one test, next they’ll expect to retake every test, and soon there won’t be any accountability in school at all.”

Hasty Generalization

“I felt nauseated both times I ate pizza from Vito’s, so I must be allergic to something in pizza.”

Appeal to Authority

“If you want to be healthy, you need to stop drinking coffee. I read it on a fitness blog.”

False Dilemma

“If you don’t support my decision, you were never really my friend.”

Bandwagon Fallacy

“Of course it’s fine to wait until the last minute to write your paper. Everybody does it!”

Appeal to Ignorance

“There must be fairies living in our attic because nobody’s ever proven that there aren’t fairies living in our attic.”

Circular Argument

“Peppers are the easiest vegetables to grow because I think peppers are the easiest vegetable to grow.”

Sunk Cost Fallacy

“I’m not enjoying this book, but I bought it, so I have to finish reading it.”

Appeal to Pity

“I know I should have been on time for the interview, but I woke up late and felt really bad about it, and the stress of being late made it hard to concentrate on driving here.”

Causal Fallacy

“When ice cream sales are up, so are shark attacks. Therefore, buying ice cream increases your risk of being bitten by a shark.”

Appeal to Hypocrisy

“You don’t have enough experience to be the new leader.” “Neither do you!”