a complete fallacy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a complete fallacy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a statement or belief that is entirely false or misleading. Example: "The idea that vaccines cause autism is a complete fallacy that has been debunked by numerous scientific studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

This is a complete fallacy.

The New Yorker

It's a complete fallacy, and you're just kidding yourself".

The Guardian - Books

I don't need to talk to anyone,' and it's a complete fallacy.

The New York Times - Health

"It's a complete fallacy that women who want to make choices that doctors don't agree with haven't got their baby's best interests at heart," says Hermine Hayes-Klein.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Drawing on wealthy backers' coffers, opponents of the proposition have hammered the proposal, warning that money raised would go out of state (which organizers call a complete fallacy) and would have no legislative oversight.

The New York Times

"It's a complete fallacy that the majority of the 'older old' are in their bath chairs and lonely," says Carol Jagger, 64, professor of the epidemiology of ageing at Newcastle University, who is involved in a study of 200 people aged over 85 in the Newcastle area.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But some (Pragma-dialectics and Johnson and Blair) do think that their stock of fallacies is a complete guard against errors because they have specified a full set of necessary conditions for good arguments/argumentation and they hold that fallacies are just failures to meet one of these conditions.

SEP

One reason to think that it is not effective is that the list of fallacies is not complete, and that even if the group of core fallacies was extended to incorporate other fallacies we thought worth including, we could still not be sure that we had a complete prophylactic against bad arguments.

SEP

It is a myth, a fallacy, factually incorrect.

Huffington Post

The first type is the rebuttal of a fallacy with a response that contains the same fallacy as the original claim (very often leading to tu quoque).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Moreover, such a move is in many cases a fallacy.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a complete fallacy", ensure the context clearly demonstrates the statement's falsity. Provide evidence or reasoning to support your claim that it is not just incorrect, but entirely unfounded.

Common error

Avoid using "a complete fallacy" when the statement is only partially incorrect or open to interpretation. Reserve this phrase for claims that are demonstrably and unequivocally false.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a complete fallacy" functions as a noun phrase that serves as a predicate nominative or object complement, identifying or characterizing something as entirely false. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in refuting arguments and debunking widespread beliefs.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a complete fallacy" is an effective phrase to highlight something that is entirely false. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not exceedingly common, appearing mostly in news and media contexts, its strong denotation makes it valuable for explicitly debunking misinformation. When employing this phrase, ensure you can support your claim with evidence, avoiding its use for merely partially incorrect assertions. Alternatives such as "a total misconception" or "an utter falsehood" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a total misconception

Emphasizes misunderstanding or misinterpretation rather than inherent falsehood.

an utter falsehood

Highlights the untruthfulness and deceitful nature of the statement.

a blatant untruth

Stresses the obvious and shameless nature of the lie.

a patent absurdity

Focuses on the ridiculous and nonsensical aspect of the statement.

a sheer delusion

Suggests the belief is based on a distorted perception of reality.

a baseless claim

Highlights the lack of evidence or support for the assertion.

a groundless assumption

Emphasizes the lack of foundation or justification for the belief.

pure fabrication

Implies the statement is entirely made up or invented.

a misleading notion

Focuses on the deceptive or confusing nature of the idea.

a deceptive pretense

Underscores the intention to mislead or create a false impression.

FAQs

How can I use "a complete fallacy" in a sentence?

You can use "a complete fallacy" to describe something that is entirely false or based on incorrect reasoning. For example: "The idea that hard work always leads to success is "a complete fallacy"."

What's the difference between "a complete fallacy" and "a partial fallacy"?

"A complete fallacy" implies that something is entirely untrue, while "a partial fallacy" suggests that only part of the statement is incorrect or misleading.

What can I say instead of "a complete fallacy"?

You can use alternatives like "a total misconception", "an utter falsehood", or "a baseless claim" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a complete fallacy" in formal writing?

Yes, "a complete fallacy" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to strongly refute a claim or idea. However, ensure that your refutation is well-supported with evidence and logical reasoning.