About This Site

Figaro rips the innards out of things people say and reveals the rhetorical tricks and pratfalls. For terms and definitions, click here.
(What are figures of speech?)
Ask Figaro a question!

Search

« “Arrange Those @*%# Flowers, Yo” | Main | Languaging at Its Best »
Monday
29Aug

Brad & Jen’s Plumbing Clogged by Used Tabloid!

DateMonday, August 29, 2005 at 05:30PM

ImageQuote: "World Exclusive! The Toilet That Destroyed Brad & Jen's Marriage!" Headline in the tabloid Star

Term: post hoc ergo propter hoc, the Chanticleer fallacy

You know Chanticleer, the rooster who thought his crowing made the sun rise? Post hoc ergo propter hoc is Latin for "after this, therefore because of this." Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston may well have debated over an old stainless-steel jailhouse toilet and sink (he wanted them in their bathroom, she didn't, according to Star). And they did break up. But did the toilet cause the split? We'll call a post hoc foul.

Snappy Answer: "Nice going. After you printed that, they both had to use the bathroom."

Got a snappier answer? Email Figaro.

AuthorFigaro | CommentPost a Comment |

PrintView Printer Friendly Version

EmailEmail Article to Friend

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this journal entry. To create a new comment, use the form below.

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.