What is a red herring fallacy?
Asked by: Natasha Hartmann | Last update: January 31, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (49 votes)
A red herring fallacy is a logical error where irrelevant information is introduced into an argument to distract from the main issue, shifting focus to a different, unrelated topic to avoid addressing the original point. It's a diversionary tactic, often used intentionally in debates, politics, or literature (as a plot device) to mislead an audience, much like a strong-smelling fish was supposedly used to distract hunting dogs from a fox's scent.
What is an example of a red herring fallacy?
A red herring fallacy uses irrelevant information to distract from the main argument, like a politician accused of corruption changing the topic to national security, or a child deflecting a request to clean their room by asking, "What about the time you forgot my birthday?". Other examples include focusing on a product's fancy features instead of its poor performance (advertising) or bringing up unrelated historical details in a debate about a modern policy (philosophy/debate).
What is the difference between straw man and red herring?
A Red Herring distracts from the original argument by introducing an irrelevant topic, while a Straw Man misrepresents or distorts the opponent's actual argument to make it easier to attack. The red herring changes the subject entirely, whereas the straw man twists the opponent's words, creating a weaker "straw" version of their claim to knock down.
Why do they call it a red herring?
The term "red herring," meaning a distraction or false clue, originates from the strong-smelling, cured fish used to train or mislead hunting dogs, popularized by journalist William Cobbett in 1807, though the practice itself is debated, with Cobbett using it as a metaphor for the misleading press. The fish gets its name from turning reddish-brown when cured, and its powerful scent was thought to train hounds to stay on a primary trail by forcing them to ignore the diversion.
What is the opposite of the red herring?
Dimitri Vorontzov offers mystery writers another way to hide a story's villain that is opposite to the famous red herring: the green herring.
The "Red Herring" Fallacy Explained in 2 Minutes
What are some famous red herring examples?
Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None uses the red herring of a fake murder. As the information is presented to the reader, we believe the character has been murdered, sure, but ultimately we're just as clueless as everyone else in the story.
What are the three types of herring?
Herring belongs to a wider family of around 200 fish species, but there are three species of herring that are most common: Atlantic, Pacific and Araucanian.
What is a pink herring?
Definition: A Preliminary Prospectus or offering document used before it has been printed as a Red Herring.
What are common red herring mistakes?
Red herring fallacy example A police officer pulls a car over for speeding. The driver complains, saying that they shouldn't pay a fine since there are so many dangerous criminals out there and the police should be chasing them instead. Although worse criminals do exist, this is a separate issue.
Is red herring manipulation?
The intentional use of red herrings and other fallacies can mislead and manipulate the audience by drawing attention to unrelated topics or emotions, potentially swaying opinions without addressing the substance of the original argument.
What is the logical fallacy of Coca Cola?
The "fallacy of Coca-Cola" refers to logical fallacies in its advertising, primarily the Bandwagon Fallacy (buy Coke to fit in) and the Hasty Generalization (universal taste/happiness), linking the drink to emotions and social acceptance without evidence, creating a false correlation between consumption and fulfillment, despite health issues linked to sugary drinks, notes StudyCorgi.com and Publisher Collective. Critics point to its misleading claims about happiness or universal appeal, contrasting with Coke's own historical slogan "The Real Thing," while simultaneously facing criticism for downplaying health risks associated with sugary drinks, says AJC.com and World Finance.
What is the legal term for strawman?
Straw man is a third party that holds property in intermission for the sole purpose of transferring it to another. In property law, a straw man would be the person whom a grantor transfers land to for some reason; (sometimes known as a "front") for the sole purpose of concealing the true owner.
What are the 8 fallacies?
Fallacies
- Ad hominem fallacy.
- Ad populum fallacy.
- Appeal to authority fallacy.
- Appeal to emotion fallacy.
- Appeal to pity fallacy.
- Base rate fallacy.
- Begging the question fallacy.
- Circular reasoning fallacy.
What movie is an example of a red herring?
Other Examples of Red Herrings in Movies and TV Shows
- 12 Monkeys: The Army of the 12 Monkeys.
- Get Out: Racism.
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Sirius Black.
- Scream: Billy getting stabbed.
- Saw: The "reveal" that Zep Hindle is Jigsaw.
- Big Hero 6: Alistair Krei.
What's it called when someone changes the subject in an argument?
Red Herring – Changing topics to avoid the point being discussed. A bait and switch. This is an argument tactic in which one attempts to change the conversation – bringing up information that is not relevant or the claim or point being debated – in order to try to control the conversation.
What are some real life examples of fallacies?
Real-life fallacy examples include Straw Man (misrepresenting an opponent's view, like saying "You want to cut defense" when they want to shift funds), Ad Hominem (attacking a person, not the argument, e.g., "Can't trust her, she got a speeding ticket"), False Cause (assuming A caused B just because they happened together, like "My stocks went up after I bought them, so they always will"), and Slippery Slope ("If we allow this, soon the government will control everything!"). These errors in reasoning appear in politics, ads, and daily debates, often by appealing to emotion, authority, or popular belief rather than logic.
What are some famous examples of red herrings?
For example, the character of Bishop Aringarosa in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code is presented for most of the novel as if he is at the centre of the church's conspiracies, but is later revealed to have been innocently duped by the true antagonist of the story.
What are the 12 logical fallacies?
Twelve common logical fallacies include Ad Hominem (attacking the person), Straw Man (misrepresenting an argument), False Dilemma (oversimplifying to two choices), Hasty Generalization (jumping to conclusions), Slippery Slope (assuming a chain reaction), Appeal to Authority/Emotion/Pity/Popularity (using irrelevant influence), Red Herring (distraction), Circular Reasoning/Begging the Question (assuming the conclusion), Post Hoc (false cause), and Equivocation (using ambiguous words), all of which weaken arguments by relying on faulty reasoning instead of evidence.
What are the 8 fallacies in Love is a fallacy?
In order to achieve this goal, Dobie guides the girl to recognize the common fallacies of logic including the Dicto Simpliciter, the Hasty Generation, the Post Hoc, the Contradictory Premises, the Ad Misericordiam, the False Analogy, the Hypothesis Contrary to Fact and the Poisoning the Well (Zhang, 2018).
What is another name for the red herring fallacy?
Red herring fallacies are also known as fallacies of relevance; they divert attention from the main topic of debate. Straw man fallacies focus on a specific type of irrelevant information: a simplistic or distorted version of the opposing argument.
What is Dutch herring?
“Hollandse Nieuwe Haring,” or “Dutch New Herring,” refers to a traditional Dutch delicacy made from young herring caught between mid-May and early July. This period is crucial because the herring must have a high fat content of at least 16%, ensuring its characteristic rich flavor and tender texture.
What is matjas?
The soused herring (maatjesharing or just maatjes in Dutch, or Matjes/matjes in German and Swedish respectively) is an especially mild salt herring, which is made from immature herrings. The herrings are ripened for a couple of days in oak barrels in a salty solution, or brine.
What is herring sperm called?
Herring sperm, known as milt, is turning the water turquoise along a stretch of Port McNeill's shore between the ferry terminal and Hyde Creek to the east.
What is the king of red herrings?
The giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) is a species of oarfish of the family Regalecidae. It is an oceanodromous species with a worldwide distribution, excluding polar regions. Other common names include Pacific oarfish, king of herrings, ribbonfish, and streamer fish. R. glesne is the world's longest ray-finned fish.
What is schmaltz herring?
Schmaltz herring is herring caught just before spawning, when the fat (schmaltz in Yiddish) in the fish is at a maximum. Colloquially, schmaltz herring refers to this fish pickled in brine: see pickled herring.