Fallacy · Rigging the question
Loaded question
Also called: Complex question
Asking a question that smuggles in an assumption, so any direct answer accepts it.
What it is
Some questions contain a hidden claim. Answering yes or no seems to accept that claim, which is what makes them a trap. The fair move is to separate the assumption from the question and deal with it first.
An example
“Have you stopped wasting money on that hobby?” Yes or no, you seem to admit you were wasting money.
How to spot it
A question where every short answer concedes something you never agreed to.
How to answer it
“That assumes I was wasting money, which I don’t accept. Here’s what I actually spend.”
When it is not a fallacy
A question can carry an assumption fairly when both sides have already accepted it. “When did you last service the car?” assumes it has been serviced, which is fine if that is agreed.
Printable sheet of all fallacies
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A plain reference you can paste into notes or an essay:
Quest2Reason. “Loaded question.” https://quest2reason.com/learn/ideas/fallacies/loaded-question. Accessed 13 November 2026.