outright fallacy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outright fallacy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a statement or argument that is completely false or misleading without any ambiguity. Example: "The claim that vaccines cause autism is an outright fallacy that has been debunked by numerous studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Outright fallacy.

The New York Times

"The suggestion that but for Mr Taylor the war in Sierra Leone would not have happened the way it did is an outright fallacy or wild speculation at best," he added.

The Guardian

Courtenay Griffith QC, his lead counsel, has argued that "the suggestion that but for Mr Taylor the war in Sierra Leone would not have happened the way it did is an outright fallacy or wild speculation at best".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But it's actually a pretty darn sophisticated approach — as demonstrated by the fact that economists who dismiss or attack IS-LM as too simplistic or something almost always end up making assertions that are much more simplistic than IS-LM, if not falling into outright logical fallacies.

The New York Times

Their rationales are riddled with half-truths, logical fallacies, and outright lies.

Huffington Post

According to Hintikka (1997) it is an outright mistake to think of Aristotle's fallacies primarily as mistaken inferences, either deductive or inductive.

SEP

Various philosophers and logicians have answered the critique, arguing that existing formulations suffer from fallacies, question-begging assumptions, and even outright mathematical errors (Bowie 1982; Chalmers 1996b; Feferman 1996; Lewis 1969, 1979; Putnam 1975: 365 366, 1994; Shapiro 2003).

SEP

The parts that aren't unconstitutional outright or barred by Federal law rest on a logical fallacy that even a first-year law student would realize has no basis in reality.

Huffington Post

That's another fallacy.

The New York Times - Magazine

That's a fallacy.

The Guardian

"It's a fallacy.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outright fallacy" when you want to strongly and directly refute a claim as completely false, without any ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "outright fallacy" in situations where the truth is subjective or debatable. Its strength is best reserved for claims that are unequivocally false.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outright fallacy" functions as a noun phrase where "outright" modifies the noun "fallacy". It is used to categorically dismiss a statement or idea as false, as exemplified by Ludwig's examples of claims being labelled as such.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outright fallacy" is a phrase used to strongly and directly refute a claim as completely false. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for use in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media. While less common, it's a powerful way to dismiss a statement without ambiguity, emphasizing its deviation from the truth. Alternative phrases like "blatant falsehood" or "complete fabrication" can be used for similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blatant falsehood

Emphasizes the obvious and intentional nature of the falsehood.

complete fabrication

Highlights the made-up or invented nature of the statement.

utter untruth

Stresses the complete lack of truth in the statement.

pure fiction

Suggests the statement is entirely imaginative and unreal.

total lie

Directly calls the statement a lie, emphasizing its deceptive intent.

absolute deception

Focuses on the act of misleading or deceiving.

arrant nonsense

Indicates the statement is foolish and lacking in sense.

bald-faced lie

Emphasizes the brazen and shameless nature of the lie.

egregious misrepresentation

Highlights the shocking and blatant distortion of facts.

serious distortion of the truth

Focuses on how much the statement twists the truth.

FAQs

How to use "outright fallacy" in a sentence?

You can use "outright fallacy" to describe a statement that is completely false. For example: "The claim that vaccines cause autism is an "outright fallacy" that has been debunked by numerous studies."

What can I say instead of "outright fallacy"?

You can use alternatives like "blatant falsehood", "complete fabrication", or "utter untruth" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "outright fallacy" or "complete fallacy"?

"Outright fallacy" is generally preferred to "complete fallacy" as it emphasizes the unequivocal nature of the falsehood. "Complete fallacy" is understandable, but less idiomatic.

What's the difference between "outright fallacy" and "misconception"?

"Outright fallacy" implies a more deliberate or egregious falsehood than "misconception", which suggests a misunderstanding or inaccurate belief. A misconception might be innocent, while an "outright fallacy" suggests a stronger deviation from truth.