Rhetorical Fallacies

An interruption between the initial idea and the conclusion.

• red herring

• ad hominem

• non sequitur

• bandwagon fallacy

When a source is viewed negatively because of its connection with another person or group.

• straw man argument

• ad hominem

• bandwagon fallacy

• guilt by association

The conclusions that one thing caused another simply because one happened before the other.

• false dichotomy

• false causation

• circular reasoning

• guilt by association

An argument that wrongly assumes there are only two possible positions.

• false dichotomy

• false causation

• appeal to nature

• hasty generalization

Drawing a conclusion based on a small sample size; a broad claim based on limited evidence.

• non sequitur

• false causation

• red herring

• hasty generalization

An argument that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important issue.

• straw man argument

• false causation

• red herring

• hasty generalization

I had a bad teacher once; therefore, all teachers must be bad.

• straw man argument

• ad hominem

• bandwagon fallacy

• guilt by association

"The Cardinals are the best football team because they're better than all the other teams."

• hasty generalization

• circular reasoning

• straw man argument

• ad hominem

Jack is a good athlete. Jack comes from Canada. Therefore, all Canadians are good athletes.

• red herring

• ad hominem

• non sequitur

• bandwagon fallacy

"Four out of five dentists recommend Happy Glossy toothpaste. Therefore, it must be great."

• non sequitur

• false causation

• red herring

• hasty generalization