When evaluating arguments, it’s important to understand the difference between facts, opinions, and arguments. A fact is a statement that can be proven or disproven, while an opinion lacks supporting evidence and often relies on assumptions. When an opinion is backed by relevant, persuasive, and logical evidence, it becomes a strong argument.
However, not all arguments are well-supported—some contain logical fallacies.
Politicians, media outlets, and persuasive speakers often use logical fallacies to mislead audiences, as these flawed arguments can appear reasonable while subtly exploiting emotional, intellectual, and psychological biases. Developing the ability to recognize logical fallacies not only helps you avoid being misled but also strengthens your own arguments, ensuring that your reasoning remains clear, logical, and credible.
Read each common fallacy carefully, then try to come up with your own example of that fallacy. First are some fallacies that misuse appeals to logos or attempt to manipulate the logic of an argument:
See below for the most common fallacies that misuse appeals to pathos, or emotion.
Beyond lying about their own credentials, authors may employ a number of fallacies to lure you to their point of view. Some of the more common techniques appear in the chart below. When you recognize these fallacies being committed you should question the credibility of the speaker and the legitimacy of the argument.
The first step to avoiding logical fallacies in your own writing is learning how to identify them in other writing. You can find examples of logical fallacies on the news, on the internet, and on the street. Sometimes these fallacies are egregious and obvious (think about the headlines you see in the tabloids), but other times the logical issues are less obvious.
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