English Language & Usage

Questions tagged [argument-structure]

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1answer
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Make a guess about historic events

I am wondering what's the right structure to make a speculation about a past event. I have a GRE writing in which I've put forth a few speculations which could weaken the argument. I've tried to use a ...
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0answers
119 views

Adjunct or Argument: “The bird flew over the lake”

In the title sentence, does "over the lake" serve as an adjunct or an optional argument? Here are the tests I tried using, though they weren't very enlightening beyond giving what kind of argument it ...
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6answers
3k views

Term for the “extreme-extension” version of a straw man fallacy?

Take the most obvious, unimpeachable statement imaginable: Drinking water is good for humans. I am looking for a word that describes the action of taking the argument, applying some unreasonable ...
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0answers
34 views

Word for a style of argument pre-excluding a particular answer as impossible

I'm not sure if this is a type of fallacy, or merely a noun or adjective for a type of (obstinate) argument. I'm looking for a word that describes a situation where a person is demanding an answer or ...
1
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1answer
215 views

Indirect object pronoun before direct object

I have seen a few people say that indirect objects that are in the form of a pronoun should be placed before the direct object in a sentence. Why is that? I didn’t know it mattered. For example: “I ...
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3answers
205 views

What is this statement being used as?

In composing a written response to a comparison that has been made, I've become a bit stumped. In the statement, the latter claims superiority over the former, based upon the self-identified qualities ...
1
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2answers
213 views

Are “subject” and “object” syntactic classifications?

I would like to know where the classification of Arguments such as subject, object... comes from. I know that the roles classifications come from Thematic roles; however, how about those mentioned ...
1
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0answers
86 views

Argumentation - [We provide X] [because of Y] or vice versa?

When writing academic (technical) texts I often encounter situations where our solution has some cool property X because we did Y. Is it better to write the reason first or after the argument? ...
0
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2answers
1k views

A phrase or word that is like “on the other hand” but for opposite ideas supporting the same argument [closed]

A sentence such as "I should go cycling because my head says it is good for my longevity and on the other hand in my heart I am passionate about it" does not make much sense. On the one hand the ...
2
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3answers
177 views

Usage of a commonly accepted proverb to disregard someone's opinion

I am looking for a term (or a sentence) that would describe a figure of speech where one individual use a commonly accepted proverb (or thick concept or other) in order to disregard someone's opinion ...
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4answers
510 views

Term for discrediting an entire argument based on discrediting a single point of it

I'm trying to think of the name of this fallacy, and it's driving me crazy. The typical situation is this: I make a claim, and list several examples supporting this claim. Someone then discredits one ...
2
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5answers
6k views

What is it called to argue in favor of something one actually opposes

What is it called when someone pretends to support ideas they oppose in order to ridicule those ideas and cast them in a negative light to others? For example Stephen Colbert used to argue in favor ...
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6answers
29k views

Term for when someone falsely accuses you of doing to them what they are actually doing to you

UPDATE: (2018-02-08) Pot-Calling-The-Kettle-Black (PCKB) reconsideration and another example: The Wikipedia article on PCKB indicates something interesting. It says that originally, the term was ...
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1answer
226 views

What does the term sophistry mean today? [closed]

Does the term sophistry as it is used today demand intentional deception or does it also include well-crafted arguments based on faulty assumptions or the use of flawed reasoning? I just glanced at ...
1
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2answers
177 views

I am wondering what it is called when an argument or description uses what the thing is not to expose a point or concept

This is useful when trying to expose on an abstract concept or something that is not a commonly understood. so contracting the difference between complimentary phenomena that are defined. It directs ...
5
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3answers
777 views

Is there a word or idiom to describe an attempt to win an argument through the introduction of a concept outside the grasp of the opponent?

Is there a word or idiom to describe an attempt to win an argument through the introduction of a concept or word that is intellectually outside the grasp of the opponent? For example, after a ...
18
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6answers
3k views

Is there a name for an argument that is also a counter-argument?

A person states an argument to support a position, but that argument could equally support the opposite position. Is there a name for such an argument? Or a phrase to describe the concept?
4
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2answers
2k views

What fallacy is this? “Your argument is wrong/invalid because it's just an opinion.”

I encounter this fallacy frequently in online discussions where an opponent completely disregards all of my premises and says my conclusion is invalid because it's an "opinion" and "not objective." ...
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5answers
956 views

2 words that describes a keeping an argument on track

I have an interest in philosophy, argument, and reason. The problem I'm having is I take on all kinds of opponents and so sometimes when I'm reasoning with people that aren't accustomed to how ...
1
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1answer
209 views

Logical fallacy brain-freeze

There must be a name for this sort of after-the-fact non-argument. Sorry, this is the only way I could find to describe it. Debbie finds a kitten. Kitten has been burned over half its body, but it's ...
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4answers
746 views

what is the name or term for someone with a faulty way of arguing?

What would be the term for some one. for example , who starts an argument by suggesting something absurd, or exaggerated - then as soon as i begin to speak OR begin to point out how obvious the ...
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2answers
164 views

Responding with a basic fact to imply a point of view is clearly flawed or wrong

What is a word or concept that describes a situation where one person puts forth a point of view, and another person does not directly address the position, but instead responds with an obvious, basic ...
2
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1answer
199 views

What is this type of argument called?

There is a kind of argument that goes like this: x is good because if x were not there, y would be bad. What is this kind of argument called? I learned about this in school but forget the name of ...
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1answer
143 views

*of* complements with psych-verbs

Consider three different uncontroversial functional categories of of PP complements. 1. Privative function ...of African slave-traders despoiled of their prey and thirsting for blood. The ...