Misleading statistic
Uses technically accurate numbers in a way that creates a false impression.
Specimen
Crime in the district has doubled since the new policy was introduced — a 100% increase in just 18 months.
Fabricated passage — teaching example designed for clarity.
misleading statistic — percentage obscures that the base rate went from 2 to 4 incidents
Dissection
Crime in the district has doubled since the new policy was introduced — a 100% increase in just 18 months.
- absolute numbers absent
- base rate unknown
- percentage maximizes alarm
Field notes
- Family
- Data & evidence issue
- Habitat
- crime reporting, health statistics, economic coverage
- Frequency
- found in 14% of analyzed articles
- Confused with
- Cherry-picking , Fear appeal
In the wild
"The product was linked to a 300% spike in complaints last year."
Consumer reporting, national daily, January 2026
"Youth unemployment has soared by 40% in the region since the policy took effect."
Economic desk, regional publication, March 2026
Why it works
Percentages feel precise, which triggers the brain's trust response for numbers. The absolute figures that would contextualize the statistic are rarely included.
Counter-move
Find the raw numbers. What does the percentage actually represent?
See it flagged in real articles while you read.
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