# Guide to Logic Errors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215 "2005-05-17T11:08:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Theologue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@Theologue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theologue)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/1 "2005-05-17T11:08:48Z")
Good Guide to Logic Errors Hi all. I am looking for a guide (book or website) describing various logical errors and fallacies commonly employed in thesis/essay writing. I’m not looking for formal logic or mathematical (or programming) works but rather common logical mistakes writers make. For example, “law of the excluded middle,” “appeal to selective evidence,” “simplistic appeals to authority,” etc. Google and Amazon weren’t too helpful. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/2 "2005-05-17T11:17:36Z")
This is a good site: [http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/](http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/3 "2005-05-17T11:24:57Z")
This one is also pretty good: [http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/](http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/) ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/4 "2005-05-17T11:52:38Z")
I usually reference [this one](http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/logic.html) (modelled, I think, on the nizkor site **PG** cited). ---
**Author:** ![Theologue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@Theologue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theologue)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/5 "2005-05-17T12:39:47Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > This one is also pretty good: > [http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/](http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/) Cool. That one has it all in one text file I can download. Thanks to all. ---
**Author:** ![Theologue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@Theologue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theologue)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/6 "2005-05-17T12:57:12Z")
Is there another name for this one? X is a feature of the concept (or theory or philosophy). Therefore, X is the entire concept (or theory or philosophy). ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/7 "2005-05-17T13:33:39Z")
> [@Theologue](#): > > Is there another name for this one? > > X is a feature of the concept (or theory or philosophy). Therefore, X is the entire concept (or theory or philosophy). Generilization? Well let’s see [http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/](http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/) QWhat? No, I do not want to log in prior to searching! Grrrrrrrrrr :mad: Hasty Generalization? No, it’s [Composition](http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/compos.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/8 "2005-05-17T15:31:33Z")
This book is specifically math-related misconceptions, errors, and fallacies, but it may help (it’s worth reading anyway): _Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences_ by John Allen Paulos. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/9 "2005-05-17T16:08:01Z")
Bob Carroll’s [Skepdic](http://skepdic.com/) site has individual HTML pages for common fallacies. You can download the entire dic or buy the book. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/10 "2005-05-17T16:15:24Z")
_Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric_ by Howard Kahane and Nancy Cavender. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guide-to-logic-errors/304215/11 "2005-05-17T16:15:48Z")
[The Trivium](http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0967967503/ref=pd_ir_imp/702-9480503-0661623) is good, but it might be more than you’re looking for.