Fallacies: alphabetic list (unique)

Disciplines > Argument > Fallacies alphabetic list

Fallacies are statements that are logically false, but which often appear to be true. Here is a are most of the known fallacies, in alphabetic order (see also the  Full alphabetic list of Fallacies to see the alternative names that are also used):

• Accent: Emphasis that changes the meaning of the sentence.
• Accident: A general rule used to explain a specific case not covered by it.
• Affirming the Consequent: If A then B. B is true, so A is true.
• Amphiboly: A sentence has two different meanings.
• Appeal to Authority: Referencing an 'expert'.
• Appeal to Common Belief: If others believe it to be true, it must be true.
• Appeal to Common Practice: If others do it, it must be ok to do it too.
• Appeal to Fear: Gaining compliance through threat.
• Appeal to Emotion: If it feels good, it must be true.
• Appeal to Novelty: Newer is better.
• Appeal to Pity: Going for the sympathy vote.
• Appeal to Ridicule: Mocking the other person's claim.
• Appeal to Tradition: It has always been done this way, so this way is right.
• Argument from Ignorance: Accepting circumstantial evidence.
• Assertion: What I say is true.
• Attack the Person: Distracting them from their argument.
• Begging the Question: Circular reasoning to prove assumed premise.
• Complex Question: two questions, one answer allowed.
• Composition: Generalizing from a few to the whole set.
• Conspiracy Theory: Reframe refutation as further proof.
• Denying the Antecedent: If A then B. A is false, so B is false.
• Division: Assuming the parts have the characteristics of the whole.
• Equivocation: A single word with more than one meaning.
• Excluded Middle: Only extreme views are valid.
• False Analogy: X has property Y. Z is like X. So Z has property Y.
• False Cause: A causes B (but no proof).
• False Compromise: Extreme views are wrong. The middle way is right.
• False Effect: A is assumed to cause B. B is proven wrong, so A is wrong.
• False Dilemma: Choice is A or B. Rejecting A is selecting B.
• Four Terms: All A is B. All C is D. So all A is D.
• Gambler's Fallacy: Chance can be predicted.
• Hasty Generalization: Generalizing from too-small a sample.
• Illicit Major: All X is Y. No P (which is a subset of Y) is X. Therefore no P is Y.
• Illicit Minor: All X are Y. All X are P. Therefore all P are Y.
• In a Certain Respect and Simply: Extending assumed boundaries too far.
• Insignificance: Making a minor cause seem major.
• Many Questions: overloading them with lots of questions.
• Missing the Point: Drawing the wrong conclusion.
• Personal Inconsistency: Past words or deeds do not match claim.
• Poisoning the Well: Discrediting the person before they speak.
• Post Hoc: X follows Y. Therefore X is caused by Y.
• Red Herring: Distracting with an irrelevancy.
• Repetition: Repeating something makes it more true.
• Slippery Slope: Loosely connected statements with ridiculous conclusion.
• Social Conformance: Agree with me or be socially isolated.
• Strawman: Attack a weak argument used by the other person.
• Style over Substance: An attractive presentation makes it more right.
• Undistributed Middle: All A is B. All C is B. Therefore all C is A.
• Unrepresentative Sample: What is true about any sample is also true about the population.
• Wishful Thinking: A is true because I want it to be true.

See also