Equivocation

(Equiv)

Arguments that use a single term to mean two substantially different things, resulting in misleading or invalid reasoning.

Avg. 0.05 per section
0%
15%
31%
23%
31%

Avg. difficulty: 3.7

Key tactics

  • Equivocation often reads like a pun. Like maybe a billboard says “Looking for a sign? This is it!” Get it? Because sign can mean omen but also the billboard is a literal sign! Get it?
  • Although it can be confusing at first, once you get accustomed to the patterns, equivocation on specific terms will jump out at you automatically.
  • Like the circular reasoning flaw, this flaw more often shows up as a wrong rather than a right answer. Hence, learning to recognize equivocation when it happens allows you to quickly say "No, no, I would have noticed if the argument did that" to answer choices.

Answer choice tips

  • Example answer choices that point to this flaw:
  • responds to a claim in which “available” is used in the sense of “affordable” by using “available” in the sense of “not occupied.”
  • improperly exploits an ambiguity in the phrase “public interest”
  • unreasonably extends the application of a key term.
  • ignores a difference in how the idea of forced work applies to the two cases.
  • fails to distinguish two distinct senses of a key term.

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Logical reasoning question types

Argument part Evaluate Fill in the blank Flaw or descriptive weakening Inference Main conclusion or main point Method of reasoning or descriptive Most strongly supported Must be false Must be true Necessary assumption Parallel flawed method of reasoning Parallel method of reasoning Point at issue: agree Point at issue: disagree Principle PSA - find or complete the application PSA - find the rule Resolve reconcile or explain Strengthen Sufficient assumption Weaken

Reading comprehension question types

Analogy (RC) Application Author’s attitude Author’s perspective Describe approach Describe organization Describe relationship Implied Logical continuation Main point Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Other’s perspective Principle or generalization Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Purpose of paragraph Purpose of passage Stated Structure WSE (RC)

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