Each entry on these lists of common misconceptions is phrased as a correction; the misconceptions themselves are implied rather than explicitly stated. These entries are concise summaries, and readers can consult the main subject articles for more detail.
Common misconceptions are widely accepted viewpoints or factoids that are actually false. They often arise from conventional wisdom (such as old wives’ tales), stereotypes, superstitions, logical fallacies, misunderstandings of science, or the popularization of pseudoscience and pseudohistory. Some misconceptions are also considered urban legends and may contribute to moral panics.
Lists
Main lists
- List of common misconceptions about arts and culture
- List of common misconceptions about history
- List of common misconceptions about science, technology, and mathematics
Additional lists
- List of common misconceptions about language learning
- List of common misconceptions about the Middle Ages
- Misconceptions about HIV/AIDS
See also
- False memory
- Illusory truth effect
- Legends and myths regarding the Titanic
- List of cognitive biases
- List of common false etymologies of English words
- List of conspiracy theories
- List of fallacies
- List of topics characterized as pseudoscience
- List of urban legends
- Mondegreen
- Outline of public relations
- Pseudodoxia Epidemica
- QI
- Scientific misconceptions
- Superseded theories in science
- The Straight Dope
Further reading
- Diefendorf, David (2007). Amazing… But False!: Hundreds of “Facts” You Thought Were True, But Aren’t. Sterling. ISBN 978-1-4027-3791-6.
- Green, Joey (2005). Contrary to Popular Belief: More than 250 False Facts Revealed. Broadway. ISBN 978-0-7679-1992-0.
- Johnsen, Ferris (1994). The Encyclopedia of Popular Misconceptions: The Ultimate Debunker’s Guide to Widely Accepted Fallacies. Carol Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8065-1556-4.
- Kruszelnicki, Karl; Adam Yazxhi (2006). Great Mythconceptions: The Science Behind the Myths (2008 ed.). Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7407-5364-0.
- Lloyd, John; John Mitchinson (2006). The Book of General Ignorance. Harmony Books. ISBN 978-0-307-39491-0.
- Lloyd, John; John Mitchinson (2010). The Second Book Of General Ignorance. Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-26965-5.
- Scudellari, Megan (December 17, 2015). “The science myths that will not die”. Nature. 528 (7582): 322–25. Bibcode:2015Natur.528..322S. doi:10.1038/528322a. PMID 26672537.
- Tuleja, Tad (1999). Fabulous Fallacies: More Than 300 Popular Beliefs That Are Not True. Galahad Books. ISBN 978-1-57866-065-0.
