A plain-English guide to the reasoning mistakes people make in arguments—and how to respond without making things worse.
Separate the conclusion from the emotion around it.
Ask what kind of support the argument actually uses.
Name the missing step—not necessarily the fallacy.
Use the categories or search in everyday language. Open any card for an example and a calm response.
‘You want fewer meetings, so you don’t care about teamwork.’
Restate your actual position before continuing.
A weak argument can accidentally land on a true conclusion. Focus on whether the reasons support the claim, not whether you like the person or the outcome.