MOST COMMON FALLACIES: #11 RED HERRING Definition and explanation: The red herring fallacy is an attempt to distract from the main issue by bringing in irrelevant information. The name of this fallacy comes from a story in which the smelly fish were used to cover up the scent of hares to distract hunting hounds. While the story may or may not be true, it can be a helpful way to visualize how this fallacy works. In argumentation, the red herring fallacy is used to divert attention from the main p