---
title: fallacy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fallacy» in the school dictionary: A fallacy is a false idea that many people believe. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fallacy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fallacy, many people, that, It, we, Everyone · **What happens:** be, believe, make, sound, use, do · **To what, where:** false idea, mistake, logic, argument, fallacy, it · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«fallacy» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [fallacy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fallacy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fallacy is a false idea that many people believe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallacy:m1:1
# text = A fallacy is a false idea that many people believe.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fallacy	fallacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fallacy | a false idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **believe** | present | many people | a false idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer idea=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In logic, a fallacy is a mistake in reasoning that makes an argument wrong, even if it sounds convincing.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallacy:m2:1
# text = In logic, a fallacy is a mistake in reasoning that makes an argument wrong, even if it sounds convincing.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	logic	logic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fallacy	fallacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	reasoning	reasoning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	even	even	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
18	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
21	convincing	convincing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fallacy | a mistake |  | logic |  | in reasoning | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | that | a argument |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset argument=Product |
| 3 | **sound** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | fallacy |  |  |  |  | convincing *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is a fallacy that we only use ten percent of our brains.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallacy:x1:1
# text = It is a fallacy that we only use ten percent of our brains.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	fallacy	fallacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	obj	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	percent	percent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	brains	brain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a fallacy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | we | a fallacy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Everyone's doing it» is a fallacy, not a reason.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallacy:x2:1
# text = «Everyone's doing it» is a fallacy, not a reason.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	csubj	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fallacy	fallacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** *in a quote* | present · progressive | Everyone | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | present | doing | a fallacy and a reason |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gambler's fallacy fools lots of people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallacy:x3:1
# text = The gambler's fallacy fools lots of people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gambler	gambler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	fallacy	fallacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	fools	fool	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fool** | present | the gambler's fallacy | lots of people |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She pointed out the fallacy in his argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallacy:x4:1
# text = She pointed out the fallacy in his argument.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pointed	point	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fallacy	fallacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point out** | past | She | the fallacy |  |  |  | in his argument | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent fallacy=Patient in argument=Theme |
| 2 | **argue** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a common fallacy that bats are blind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallacy:x5:1
# text = It's a common fallacy that bats are blind.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fallacy	fallacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	blind	blind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a common fallacy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a common fallacy |  |  |  |  | blind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Name-calling instead of answering is a fallacy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallacy:x6:1
# text = Name-calling instead of answering is a fallacy.
1	Name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	calling	call	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	6	mark	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	answering	answer	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fallacy	fallacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund | Name *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | gerund | Name *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Name | a fallacy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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