Black-and-White Fallacy
Black-and-White Fallacy: only two choices when there are more.
How to spot it
Two choices offered where there are more: "you're either with us or against us", "it's this bill or chaos", "secure the border or lose the country". The missing options are the tell. Ask what else someone could reasonably think or do.
What doesn't count
Some choices really are binary: a yes-or-no vote, a runoff with two candidates. Saying so isn't a fallacy. Neither is arguing that one option is better than another.
Real examples
Each was flagged by Semblen's model, then chosen to stay on this page, so the examples don't change from day to day. A quote in a news article may be the outlet reporting what someone else said, and an ad may be quoting its opponent. Follow each link to check it in context.
In the news
“an election between common sense versus crazy”
“the only thing that can stand between Britain and this dangerous experiment”
“If the world wants peace and prosperity, world jewry must be exterminated”
“the arsonists, the people who started the fire or the people who are cleaning up the mess”
“do they want a government that will be totally dominated by the Sweden Democrats, or do they want a government led by me?”
“common sense versus communist crazy”
In 2026 campaign ads
“can either vote for David Jolly or admit that they want to destroy public education”
“You're either with big tech, or you're with our towns.”
“There are two choices this election”
“The choice in this election is simple: continuous tax hikes under career politicians, or real, permanent relief with Vivek Ramaswamy”
“It’s either freedom or socialism”
“If you’re against the PFD, you’re against Alaskans.”
In government statements
“America versus the globalists”
“You can be a communist or you can be a patriot.”
“two options: leave now or be swiftly deported”
“whether the West maintains its place at the head of the world, or resigns itself to a future of atrophy, servitude, and decline”
“We're the only team in Washington that does”
“face a clear choice: continue this progress, or return to the higher taxes, open borders, and failed policies of the past”
Related techniques
Something wrong or unclear on this page?
Tell us. A person reads every note. Use Yes / No under any example if it isn't really black-and-white fallacy: two readers saying no takes it off the page.
Check something yourself
Paste an article, a speech or a video link into the analyzer and Semblen marks the words that use black-and-white fallacy or any other technique, and says why. It flags rhetorical techniques, not political tilt.