Definitions and Examples:Abstraction or Quoting Out of ContextAn out-of-context quote is an incomplete, and misleading, quote from another, deliberately taken to mean something other than the intended meaning by the person quoted. An example, given by Fallacy Files, is
Quote:
Have the various fossil candidates for a place in our human ancestry stood the test of time?
Answer: One by one, various fossil man finds have flashed across the front pages of the newspapers and been the subject of many scientific studies and reports, only to be at last either discredited or just forgotten, replaced by newer finds which also eventually fade away. In 1981 British scientist John Reader commented on this Hollywood character of some of our former alleged ancestors:
"Not many (if any) [fossil hominids] have held the stage for long; by now laymen could be forgiven for regarding each new arrival as no less ephemeral than the weather forecast.…"
However, the quote in question referred not to fossil hominids, but their status as the earliest known human ancestry. Inasmuch, the quote, out of context, is misleading.
Abuse of Etymology or Etymological FallacyThe etymological fallacy is a misuse of a historical version of a word, as if that were the current word. An example is that of the word "*****". Some have been known to take it in terms of the original roots, which translate as "child love". However, the word, as used, currently refers to a disorder classified by the DSM-IV. This is related to equivocation.
AccentA misuse of accent happens when one uses a word in a sentence which may have multiple meanings, depending on how the word is pronounced or read. Again, from Fallacy Files, "I resent that letter" may either mean "resent" as in "take offense to", or as in "sent again."
Accident or Dicto Simpliciter or Sweeping GeneralizationAffirmation of or Asserting the ConsequentAffirming a Disjunct/ Affirming One Disjunct or Asserting an Alternative or Improper Disjunctive Syllogism or Alternative Syllogism, Fallacy of theAffirming the ConsequentAmbiguityAmbiguous Middle or Four-Term Fallacy or Quaternio TerminorumAmphiboly/ AmphibologyAnecdotal Fallacy or Volvo FallacyAppeal to CelebrityArgumentum ad Baculum or Appeal to ForceArgumentum ad Consequentiam or Appeal to ConsequencesArgumentum ad Hominem or Personal AttackArgumentum ad Ignorantiam or Appeal to IgnoranceArgumentum ad Invidiam or Argumentum ad Metum or Argumentum ad Misericordiam or Argumentum ad Odium or Argumentum ad Superbiam or Appeal to Envy or Appeal to Fear or Appeal to Hatred or Appeal to Pity or Appeal to Pride or Emotional AppealArgumentum ad Logicam or Fallacist's/Fallacy FallacyArgumentum ad Naturam or Appeal to Nature or Naturalistic Fallacy
Argumentum ad Nazium or Hitler CardArgumentum ad Populum or Appeal to Popularity or Authority of the Many or Argument by Consensus or Bandwagon FallacyArgumentum ad Verecundiam or Appeal to Authority or Ipse DixitBad Reasons FallacyBase Rate Fallacy or Neglecting Base RatesBegging the Question orCircular Argument or Circulus in Probando or Petitio Principii or Vicious CircleBifurcation or Black-and-White Fallacy or Black-or-White Fallacy or Either/Or Fallacy or False DilemmaCommutation of Conditionals or Consequent, Fallacy of the or Converting a Conditional
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