False analogies
This fallacy happens when two things are compared even though they are not similar in important
ways. The comparison sounds logical but ignores key differences.
Example: Saying guns should not be controlled because hammers are not controlled, even though
their purposes are very different.
Deflection, complicity and exclusion
This fallacy uses language to avoid real argument by distracting the audience or excluding critical
voices.
Example: Instead of giving evidence, a speaker says critics are just being negative or don’t belong
to the group.
Deflective language
Here, the speaker claims something is obvious without proof, discouraging people from questioning
it.
Example: “Clearly, this policy will work,” said without giving any supporting evidence.
Encouraging complicity
This fallacy pressures people to agree by claiming everyone already agrees, replacing reasoning
with social pressure.
Example: “We all know this is the best solution,” even though no evidence is given.
Emotive language
Emotive language replaces logic with strong feelings like fear, anger, or sympathy to persuade the
audience.
Example: “If we close this center, innocent children will suffer and be abandoned.”
Appeal to authority
This fallacy relies on a famous or respected name instead of real evidence, especially when the
person is not an expert.
Example: An actor says a medical treatment works, so people believe it without scientific proof.
Ad populum / Appeal to Majority
This fallacy claims something is true simply because many people believe it.
Example: “Most people think this law is fair, so it must be right.”
Attacking the person / Ad Hominem
Instead of responding to the argument, this fallacy attacks the person making it.
Example: Rejecting an argument by saying the speaker is ignorant or immoral.
Straw Man
This fallacy changes an opponent’s argument into a weaker or extreme version and attacks that
instead.
Example: Saying environmentalists want to ban all cars when they only support reducing pollution.
Hasty Generalization
This fallacy draws a general conclusion from too little evidence.
Example: Meeting two rude tourists and concluding all tourists are rude.
Post Hoc fallacy (after this fallacy)
This fallacy assumes that because one event came first, it caused the next.
Example: Believing a test went badly because you wore a ‘bad luck’ shirt.
Two Wrongs do not Make a Right
This fallacy argues that a wrong action is acceptable because someone else did it.
Example: Cheating on a test because others are cheating.