What is a red herring in an argument?

It is a distraction: a point that pulls attention away from the matter being debated. The new point may be interesting or accurate, but it does not bear on the question, so discussing it lets the original question slip away unresolved.

Where does the phrase red herring come from?

It was popularised in 1807 by the English journalist William Cobbett, who described dragging a strongly scented smoked herring to draw hounds off their quarry. He used the story as a metaphor for a press that had been distracted by a false report.

What is the difference between a red herring and a straw man?

A straw man stays on topic but distorts the opponent’s position. A red herring leaves the topic altogether and moves on to a different issue. Both avoid engaging with the actual argument, just by different routes.

Are red herrings always fallacies?

No. In crime fiction a red herring is a deliberate false clue, and a good one is part of the craft. In argument it counts as a fallacy only when the irrelevant point is offered as though it answered, or could replace, the question being discussed.

Red herring fallacy

Logical fallacy · Relevance

A red herring is an irrelevant point brought into a discussion that draws attention away from the real issue. It often sounds connected and may even be true, but dealing with it leaves the original question unanswered.

By the ReadGlobe Editors · Reviewed 2026-10-24

Why does the red herring fallacy persuade?

Changing the subject is one of the easiest ways out of an awkward question, and a well-chosen diversion seems relevant enough that nobody objects. Listeners frequently take the bait willingly: an emotive side issue is more engaging than the dull one on the table, and correcting a fresh claim feels more urgent than pressing an old one. The figurative phrase was popularised in 1807 by the English journalist William Cobbett, who told of using a strong-smelling smoked herring to lead hounds off a trail.

Examples of the red herring fallacy

Asked why a delivery is three weeks late, a supplier talks at length about how hard the whole industry has had it lately.
A teenager questioned about a new dent in the car points out that it was old and due for replacement anyway.
During a pay review, a manager answers a request for a rise by describing the new coffee machine and the upcoming team away-day.
A product recall notice spends three paragraphs on the company’s charity work before it mentions the fault.

How do you spot it and respond?

Name the original question and steer back to it: “That may be true, but it doesn’t explain why the order is late.”
Test relevance by asking whether the new point, if correct, would change the answer to the question under discussion.
Offer to take up the side issue later, so setting it aside now does not look like waving it away.

Frequently asked

What is a red herring in an argument?: It is a distraction: a point that pulls attention away from the matter being debated. The new point may be interesting or accurate, but it does not bear on the question, so discussing it lets the original question slip away unresolved.
Where does the phrase red herring come from?: It was popularised in 1807 by the English journalist William Cobbett, who described dragging a strongly scented smoked herring to draw hounds off their quarry. He used the story as a metaphor for a press that had been distracted by a false report.
What is the difference between a red herring and a straw man?: A straw man stays on topic but distorts the opponent’s position. A red herring leaves the topic altogether and moves on to a different issue. Both avoid engaging with the actual argument, just by different routes.
Are red herrings always fallacies?: No. In crime fiction a red herring is a deliberate false clue, and a good one is part of the craft. In argument it counts as a fallacy only when the irrelevant point is offered as though it answered, or could replace, the question being discussed.

Keep reading

Self-serving bias

Wins prove your skill, losses prove bad luck — a scoring system that protects you from the truth.

1 min read →

Mental modelNetwork effects Cognitive biasOverconfidence effect Mental modelSignal vs noise

The books behind better thinking

Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, ReadGlobe earns from qualifying purchases and Audible trials — at no extra cost to you.

Listen to any of these free. Start a free Audible trial and get your first audiobook on the house.

Start your free Audible trial

Prefer to read? The canonical picks:

Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman
The Art of Thinking Clearly — Rolf Dobelli
The Great Mental Models, Volume 1 — Shane Parrish
Poor Charlie’s Almanack — Charlie Munger
Super Thinking — Gabriel Weinberg & Lauren McCann
Seeking Wisdom — Peter Bevelin

Cite this page

APA

ReadGlobe. (2026). Red herring fallacy. https://readglobe.com/fallacy/red-herring/

MLA

"Red herring fallacy." ReadGlobe, 24 Oct. 2026, readglobe.com/fallacy/red-herring/.

Editorial synthesis © ReadGlobe 2026, drawing on the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entries on fallacies and the logic and critical-thinking literature they cite. · Last reviewed 2026-10-24.