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Grammarly
grammarly.com › blog › rhetorical-devices › logical-fallacies
15 Logical Fallacies to Know, With Definitions and Examples
April 10, 2023 - Other logical fallacies include the no true Scotsman fallacy (“New Yorkers fold their pizza, so you must not really be from New York if you eat yours with utensils.”) and the Texas sharpshooter fallacy (cherry-picking data to support a claim rather than drawing a logical conclusion from a broad body of evidence). Take a look at these examples and see if you can spot the logical fallacy:
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Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › logical fallacies | definition, types, list & examples
Logical Fallacies | Definition, Types, List & Examples
October 9, 2023 - The majority of logical fallacies involve arguments—in other words, one or more statements (called the premise) and a conclusion. The premise is offered in support of the claim being made, which is the conclusion. There are two types of mistakes that can occur in arguments: A factual error in the premises. Here, the mistake is not one of logic. A premise can be proven or disproven with facts. For example, If you counted 13 people in the room when there were 14, then you made a factual mistake.
Discussions

ELI5: All the common "logical fallacies" that you see people referring to on Reddit.

There are loads. But some common ones:

  • Ad hominem To attack the person not the argument: "We should increase taxes", "Don't listen to him, he only showers once a week".

I've been getting a lot of replies about this one. An ad hominem only occurs if you ignore the argument and attack the person to undermine the argument. "It's hot outside, let's all go for ice-cream." "That's a bad idea. I'm diabetic, you moron" is not ad hominem. It's not a very nice response, but he still counters the argument with a reason. "Men are more likely to drink-drive, so all men should be banned from driving." "You're a massive idiot." still isn't really ad hominem; he is attacking the person, but it is more like an insult than a counter argument. "Board games are the root of all evil. If we ban them then crime will go down." "You are clearly uneducated and a fool, so this cannot be true." is an ad hominem fallacy. And now I've probably made everything more confusing.

  • Circular Reasoning Where the reason relies on the conclusion being true. "God exists because the Bible says so; Bible is true since it's the word of God".

  • Slippery slope The assumption that accepting one thing will lead to increasing undesirable other things. "If we let the immigrants in then they will take our jobs, leaving us homeless and then our children will be forced to work as prostitutes for food. Is that what you want? Child prostitutes?"

  • False Dilemma Forcing or suggesting there are only two possible options in a situation, where really there are many. "Steve insulted my mother, so I had to either punch him or be forever known as a wuss"

  • Tu quoque Literally you too (I think). Basically saying that if you don't do it, why should I? "My doctor told me to lose weight, but what does he know? He's fatter than me!"

  • Appeal to Authority Where a statement by an irrelevant authoritative figure or group is used. "Dr Steve says the vaccine causes cancer, so that vaccine must be banned." "Tiger Woods says this 10 bladed razor is way better than a 3 bladed one. The 7 extra blades therefore clearly make a difference."

  • Appeal to Popularity Where if a sizeable group of people belief in something, the belief must be correct. "300,000 Indians eat rice every day, therefore it must be healthy."

  • Appeal to Ignorance Where you assume something is true because it hasn't been proven false. Your standard "I don't know, therefore aliens".

  • Loaded Question Asking a question that presumes a certain fact. "What's your opinion on the immigrants that are ruining our society?" assumes immigrants are ruining our society, and by answering it directly you agree with this statement.

  • Straw Man Misrepresent the argument to make it easier to knock down. "We should give free fruit to school kids", "Yeah, let's just give everyone free food. That would just lead to obesity and a greater deficit".

  • Post Hoc (ergo propter hoc) Claiming that because something happens after something else, the first caused the second. "I wore my green socks today, and then found out my wife was leaving me. I didn't know she hated them that badly."

  • Gamblers' Fallacy Believing that a deviation in a series of (independent) chance events will soon be met by a deviation the opposite way. "I've given birth to six boys. My next kid is definitely a girl!"

  • Middle Ground Saying that a compromise between two extreme position is the correct one, solely because it is in the middle. "Schools are being forced to teach both creationism and the theory of evolution. The truth must be somewhere in between; they should teach the theory of creatioevolutionism."

  • Appeal to Emotion Relying on manipulating emotions rather than a solid argument. "Look at this poor little dog. Look at it! He looks so miserable and depressed. We should take him home and look after him." or "Meth. Not even once."

  • "Fallacy" Fallacy The fallacy you might use after reading this list. An argument contains a fallacy, therefore the conclusion is wrong. "The Meth. Not even once. campaign is just one massive appeal to emotion fallacy. Therefore there is no reason to stop doing meth."

I've probably forgotten a few.

Examples are meant to be exaggerated. In real life they are often more subtle, and the names aren't important as long as you recognise that there's something wrong.

Edit: Adding more fallacies that others have mentioned for a more complete list.

Edit: Added Middle Ground, fixed some grammar errors, formatting.

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🌐 r/explainlikeimfive
653
1137
October 31, 2010
ELI5 What is a logical fallacy?

A logical fallacy is a failed attempt at using logic. Logic is kind of like math in that it has rules. If you said that 2+2=5, you would have made an error. A logical fallacy is similar to this in that you can attempt to put together some facts and use a faulty mechanism for reasoning to lead you to a conclusion that may or may not be the right one.

A very common one is the use of "ad hominem" attacks. An example would be if you and I were having a disagreement about which of two trees was taller and then to win the argument I called you stupid and therefore wrong. Whether you're stupid or not has nothing to do with the height of the trees. It may in fact be the case that you are stupid and made a mistake, but you could just as easily be stupid and get the right answer. In any case, the only thing that matters in this case is which tree is taller. It sounds ridiculous, but if you pay attention, you'll see this kind of thing is very common.

There are many other types of fallacies. Here are some more examples that are better than the one I just provided.

Edit: Tweaked the example based on suggestions from others.

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🌐 r/explainlikeimfive
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February 20, 2022
A Guide To Logical Fallacies
Hmmm, I certainly have never seen politicians use any of these fallacies More on reddit.com
🌐 r/coolguides
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June 22, 2018
Help finding real life examples of logical fallacies?
My favourite is the 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' witch trial scene , how many fallacies can you spot? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/askphilosophy
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People also ask

Is appeal to ignorance a logical fallacy?
An appeal to ignorance (ignorance here meaning lack of evidence) is a type of informal logical fallacy. · It asserts that something must be true because it hasn’t been proven false—or that something must be false because it has not yet been proven true. · For example, “unicorns exist because there is no evidence that they don’t.” The appeal to ignorance is also called the burden of proof fallacy.
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scribbr.com
scribbr.com › home › logical fallacies | definition, types, list & examples
Logical Fallacies | Definition, Types, List & Examples
What is the difference between cognitive bias and logical fallacy?
People sometimes confuse cognitive bias and logical fallacies because they both relate to flawed thinking. However, they are not the same: · Cognitive bias is the tendency to make decisions or take action in an illogical way because of our values, memory, socialization, and other personal attributes. In other words, it refers to a fixed pattern of thinking rooted in the way our brain works. · Logical fallacies relate to how we make claims and construct our arguments in the moment. They are statements that sound convincing at first but can be disproven through logical reasoning. · In other word
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scribbr.com
scribbr.com › home › logical fallacies | definition, types, list & examples
Logical Fallacies | Definition, Types, List & Examples
Is ad hominem a logical fallacy?
An ad hominem (Latin for “to the person”) is a type of informal logical fallacy. Instead of arguing against a person’s position, an ad hominem argument attacks the person’s character or actions in an effort to discredit them. · This rhetorical strategy is fallacious because a person’s character, motive, education, or other personal trait is logically irrelevant to whether their argument is true or false. · Name-calling is common in ad hominem fallacy (e.g., “environmental activists are ineffective because they’re all lazy tree-huggers”).
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scribbr.com
scribbr.com › home › logical fallacies | definition, types, list & examples
Logical Fallacies | Definition, Types, List & Examples
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Purdue OWL
owl.purdue.edu › owl › general_writing › academic_writing › logic_in_argumentative_writing › fallacies.html
Logical Fallacies - Purdue OWL
In this example, the author assumes that if one event chronologically follows another the first event must have caused the second. But the illness could have been caused by the burrito the night before, a flu bug that had been working on the body for days, or a chemical spill across campus. There is no reason, without more evidence, to assume the water caused the person to be sick. Genetic Fallacy: This conclusion is based on an argument that the origins of a person, idea, institute, or theory determine its character, nature, or worth.
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › List_of_fallacies
List of fallacies - Wikipedia
3 days ago - Vacuous truth – a claim that is technically true but meaningless, in the form no A in B has C, when there is no A in B. For example, claiming that no mobile phones in the room are on when there are no mobile phones in the room. Cognitive distortion – Exaggerated or irrational thought pattern ... Map–territory relation – Relationship between an object and a representation of that object (confusing map with territory, menu with meal) Mathematical fallacy – Certain type of mistaken proof · Sophistical Refutations – Text by Aristotle on logical fallacies, in which Aristotle presented thirteen fallacies
use of invalid or otherwise faulty reasoning in the construction of an argument
Fallacy - Wikipedia
classification of fallacies: (1) material, (2) verbal, and (3) formal
A fallacy is the use of invalid or otherwise faulty reasoning in the construction of an argument that may appear to be well-reasoned if unnoticed. The term was introduced in the Western … Wikipedia
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Fallacy
Fallacy - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - Stereotypes about people ("frat boys are drunkards", "grad students are nerdy", "women don't enjoy sports", etc.) are common examples of the principle. Hasty generalization often follows a pattern such as: X is true for A. X is true for B. Therefore, X is true for C, D, etc. While never a valid logical deduction, if such an inference can be made on statistical grounds, it may nonetheless be convincing. This is because with enough empirical evidence, the generalization is no longer a hasty one. The fallacies of relevance are a broad class of informal fallacies, generically represented by missing the point: presenting an argument that may be sound but fails to address the issue in question.
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The Writing Center
writingcenter.unc.edu › home › tips & tools › fallacies
Fallacies – The Writing Center
December 29, 2011 - The information the arguer has given might feel relevant and might even get the audience to consider the conclusion—but the information isn’t logically relevant, and so the argument is fallacious. Here’s another example: “It’s wrong to tax corporations—think of all the money they give to charity, and of the costs they already pay to run their businesses!” · Tip: Make sure that you aren’t simply trying to get your audience to agree with you by making them feel sorry for someone. Definition: In the appeal to ignorance, the arguer basically says, “Look, there’s no conclusive evidence on the issue at hand.
Find elsewhere
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Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
iep.utm.edu › fallacy
Fallacies | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
... The councilman’s argument for the new convention center can’t be any good because he stands to gain if it’s built. Formal fallacies are all the cases or kinds of reasoning that fail to be deductively valid. Formal fallacies are also called Logical Fallacies or Invalidities.
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Quality Philosophers
pesec.no › 24-most-common-logical-fallacies
24 most common logical fallacies
January 27, 2025 - It is entirely possible to make a claim that is false yet argue with logical coherency for that claim, just as it is possible to make a claim that is true and justify it with various fallacies and poor arguments. Example: Recognising that Amanda had committed a fallacy in arguing that we should eat healthy food because a nutritionist said it was popular, Alyse said we should therefore eat bacon double cheeseburgers every day.
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Your Logical Fallacy Is
yourlogicalfallacyis.com
Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies
Logical fallacies are like tricks or illusions of thought, and they're often very sneakily used by politicians and the media to fool people. Don't be fooled! This website has been designed to help you identify and call out dodgy logic wherever it may raise its ugly, incoherent head. Rollover the icons above and click for examples...
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Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › philosophical issues
Fallacy | Logic, Definition & Examples | Britannica
February 13, 2026 - Some arguments that fail to be deductively valid are acceptable on grounds other than formal logic, and their conclusions are supported with less than logical necessity. In other potentially persuasive arguments, the premises give no rational grounds for accepting the conclusion. These defective forms of argument are called fallacies.
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Indeed
indeed.com › career-advice › career-development › logical-fallacies-examples
15 Common Logical Fallacies Examples | Indeed.com
Here are common logical fallacies you may encounter during an argument or debate: This fallacy is when people believe that correlation equals causation. Oftentimes, correlations happen by coincidence or outside forces. They don't necessarily mean that one thing is directly causing the other. Although this argument may seem easy to notice in theory, it can be challenging to determine in reality.Example: "Our website got a lot of new traffic last week.
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freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › logical-fallacies-definition-fallacy-examples
Logical Fallacies – Definition and Fallacy Examples
June 23, 2021 - Because this isn't a case of "strength in numbers" – an ad populum fallacy results from a lot of people believing incorrect or misleading information. What if your young teenager comes to you and wants to get a tattoo. They argue that all their high school friends are doing it because some celebrity just got this new tattoo. Now, whatever your feelings about tattoos, this is a logical fallacy.
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UT Miners
utminers.utep.edu › omwilliamson › engl1311 › fallacies.htm
Master List of Logical Fallacies
Master List of Logical Fallacies · Fallacies are fake or deceptive arguments, "junk cognition," that is, arguments that seem irrefutable but prove nothing. Fallacies often seem superficially sound and they far too often retain immense persuasive power even after being clearly exposed as false.
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QuillBot
quillbot.com › home › logical fallacies | definition, types, list & examples
Logical Fallacies | Definition, Types, List & Examples
November 13, 2025 - The following are common examples of fallacies that might be encountered in various contexts. Red herrings are distraction-based informal fallacies, also known as fallacies of relevance. Often used deliberately, red herrings can effectively divert attention from an argument’s weak points. Red herrings can be especially effective at distracting an audience if they are subtle, or if they shift attention to an emotionally charged topic or accusation. Red herring logical fallacy exampleIn a political debate, a candidate is asked about her position on healthcare reform.
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ThoughtCo
thoughtco.com › what-is-logical-fallacy-1691259
Get the Definition of Logical Fallacy With Examples of the Term
August 4, 2024 - They are also called fallacies, informal logical fallacies, and informal fallacies. All logical fallacies are nonsequiturs—arguments in which a conclusion doesn't follow logically from what preceded it. Clinical psychologist Rian McMullin expands this definition:
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Logical Fallacies
logicalfallacies.org
Logical Fallacies - List of Logical Fallacies with Examples
Ad Hominem* Ambiguity* Anecdotal* Appeal to Authority* Appeal to Emotion* Appeal to Nature* Appeal to Ridicule Appeal to Tradition Argument from Repetition Argumentum ad Populum Bandwagon* Begging the Question* Burden of Proof* Circular Reasoning* Continuum Fallacy Equivocation* Etymological Fallacy* Fallacy Fallacy* Fallacy of Composition and Division* Fallacy of Quoting Out of Context False Cause & False Attribution* False Dilemma* Faulty Generalization* Furtive Fallacy Gambler's Fallacy* Genetic Fallacy* Ignoratio Elenchi Incomplete Comparison Inflation of Conflict Kettle Logic Loaded Question* Middle Ground* No True Scotsman* Personal Incredulity* Proof by Verbosity Proving Too Much Red Herring* Reification Retrospective Determinism Shotgun Argumentation Slippery Slope* Special Pleading* Strawman* Texas Sharpshooter* Tu Quoque*
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Kellogg Community College
kellogg.edu › upload › eng151text › chapter › text-logical-fallacies › index.html
Logical Fallacies | English Composition I
Most formal fallacies are errors of logic: the conclusion doesn’t really “follow from” (is not supported by) the premises. Either the premises are untrue or the argument is invalid. Below is an example of an invalid deductive argument.
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BBC
bbc.com › future › article › 20240709-seven-ways-to-spot-a-bad-argument
Logical fallacies: Seven ways to spot a bad argument
July 10, 2024 - Sometimes considered a type of red herring – a logical fallacy that uses unrelated information to redirect away from the argument's flaws – whataboutism is intended to distract attention. It describes when, normally in response to an accusation or a question, someone responds with their own accusation. In an argument with a partner, for example, you might say, "It hurt my feelings when you did X." A whataboutism response might be "Well, you never take out the trash!"
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University of Nevada, Reno
unr.edu › university › writing & speaking center › writing & speaking resources › logical fallacies
Logical Fallacies | University Writing & Speaking Center | University of Nevada, Reno
Logical fallacies make an argument weak by using mistaken beliefs/ideas, invalid arguments, illogical arguments, and/or deceptiveness. If you are arguing, avoid fallacies of thought because they create weaknesses in an argument.
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FirstEditing
firstediting.com › blogs › logical-fallacies-definition-and-examples
Logical Fallacies: Definition and Examples | FirstEditing.com
May 6, 2025 - Argumentum ad verecundiam fallacy relies on false authority to support one’s statements. Example: “I know this type of diet will help me lose ten kilograms in one month because my favourite celebrity said so.” · As the name suggests, this type of reasoning relies on one’s assumptions to create an argument. However, the assumptions themselves don’t hold enough weight to support the argument’s logic.