Cherry-picking
Selects only the data that supports the argument.
Specimen
In four of the last five years , this approach delivered above-average results — proof that the strategy is sound.
Fabricated passage — teaching example designed for clarity.
cherry-picking — favorable subset selected; the fifth year and wider context absent
Dissection
In four of the last five years, this approach delivered above-average results.
- fifth year omitted
- 'above-average' relative to what?
- causation not established
Field notes
- Family
- Data & evidence issue
- Habitat
- business journalism, policy coverage, performance reporting
- Frequency
- found in 12% of analyzed articles
- Confused with
- Misleading statistic , Selective framing
In the wild
"Over the past decade, crime has fallen in seven of the ten years since the program launched."
Policy reporting, regional broadsheet, February 2026
"In 14 of the last 20 quarters, this sector outperformed the market average."
Financial commentary, business publication, March 2026
Why it works
Selected data is still data. The reader applies legitimate fact-checking to each individual point without asking why only those points were chosen.
Counter-move
Ask: what does the full dataset look like? What wasn't shown?
See it flagged in real articles while you read.
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