Rhetorical fallacies

Rhetorical Fallacy

an error in reasoning that may render an argument invalid

ad hominem

(literally, "against the man") when a writer personally attacks his or her opponents instead of their arguments

appeal to false authority

an author cites an individual who has no expertise to comment on the issue

dogmatism

an author asserts or assumes that a particular position is the only one that is conceivably acceptable; no argument is necessary because the truth is self-evident and needs no support

stacking the deck

an author presents only one side of a story, the side that supports the author's argument

circular reasoning

often called begging the question, the argument repeats the claim instead of providing evidence

equivocation

half truths that give lies an honest appearance

faulty analogy

an argument compares two things that are not comparable (ignoring significant

differences)

hasty generalization

a faulty conclusion is reached after inadequate evidence (smoking isn't bad; my sister has smoked for years and remains the picture of health)

non-sequitur

when one statement isn't logically connected to another

post hoc, ergo propter hoc

when a writer implies that because one thing follows another, the first caused the second. But sequence is not cause.

red herring

when a writer raises an irrelevant issue to draw attention away from the real issue

straw man

when a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak. Setting up a straw man diverts attention from the real issue.

ad populum (bandwagon appeal)

a claim supported by popularity

either/or (false dilemma)

an argument presents two extreme options as the only possible choices (politicians, ha!)

overly sentimental appeals

excessive use of emotion to distract the audience from facts

scare tactics

when a writer exaggerates possible dangers well beyond their statistical likelihood

slippery slope

when a writer exaggerates the likely consequences of an action, usually to frighten the audience