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The origin of the term "red herring" comes from the practice of using a strong-smelling fish, a red herring, to train hunting dogs to follow a scent. The fish was originally salted and smoked, giving it a distinctive and pungent odor that could be used to lay a false trail. Trainers would drag the fish across the ground, or along a trail, to teach the dogs to follow a scent. In some cases, the trainers would intentionally lay a false trail using a red herring to divert the dogs from the intended target, such as a fox or hare, which was considered the real prey. The use of red herrings as a training tool for hunting dogs dates back to at least the 17th century, and the term "red herring" eventually came to be used more broadly to refer to any false or misleading clue that is intended to divert attention from the real issue or problem.

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You may have seen a red herring in a recent book or movie, but you probably only realized it after the fact. These misleading clues are designed to trick you into drawing an incorrect conclusion, and they're a popular ploy among storytellers of all stripes.

If you've seen or read the Harry Potter series-and really, who hasn't?-then you may recall some of the many instances where J.K. Rowling employed this literary device. That endearing plot twist about the nature of Snape's character, for example, is likely one of the longest-running red herrings ever written.

Sometimes they aren't even subtle. Agatha Christie's murder mystery And Then There Were None directly mentions red herring in reference to a character's death, and a statue of a red herring appears in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Perhaps most blatantly, a character in the cartoon A Pup Named Scooby-Doo who was constantly being blamed for myriad crimes was named-you guessed it-Red Herring.

But where does this literary device come from, and why is it named after a fish? For a bit of background: herring are naturally a silvery hue, but they turn reddish-brown when they're smoked. Long before refrigerators were invented, this was done to preserve the fish for months at a time. They can also be pretty smelly. As Gizmodo's io9 blog points out, it was believed that red herring were dragged against the ground to help train hounds to sniff out prey in the 17th century. Another theory was that escaped prisoners used the fish to cover their tracks and confuse the dogs that tailed them.

However, io9 notes that red herring were actually used to train horses rather than dogs, and only if the preferred choice-a dead cat-wasn't available. The idea was that the horses would get used to following the scent trail, which in turn would make them less likely to get spooked while "following the hounds amid the noise and bustle of a fox hunt," notes British etymologist and writer Michael Quinion, who researched the origin of the phrase red herring.

The actual origin of the figurative sense of the phrase can be traced back to the early 1800s. Around this time, English journalist William Cobbett wrote a presumably fictional story about how he had used red herring as a boy to throw hounds off the scent of a hare. He elaborated on this anecdote and used it to criticize some of his fellow journalists. "He used the story as a metaphor to decry the press, which had allowed itself to be misled by false information about a supposed defeat of Napoleon," Quinion writes in a blog. "This caused them to take their attention off important domestic matters."

According to Quinion, an extended version of this story was printed in 1833, and the idiom spread from there. Although many people are more familiar with red herrings in pop culture, they also crop up in political spheres and debates of all kinds. Robert J. Gula, the author of : Red Herrings, Straw Men and Sacred Cows: How We Abuse Logic in Our Everyday Language, defines a red herring as "a detail or remark inserted into a discussion, either intentionally or unintentionally, that sidetracks the discussion."

The goal is to distract the listener or opponent from the original topic, and it's considered a type of flawed reasoning-or, more fancifully, a logical fallacy. This application of red herring seems to be more in line with its original usage, but as Quinion notes: "This does nothing to change the sense of red herring, of course: it's been for too long a fixed part of our vocabulary for it to change. But at least we now know its origin. Another obscure etymology has been nailed down."

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Where Did the Phrase 'Red Herring' Come From?

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You may have seen a red herring in a recent book or movie, but you probably only realized it after the fact. These misleading clues are designed to trick you into drawing an incorrect conclusion, and they're a popular ploy among storytellers of all stripes.

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A red herring is a figure of speech or a literary device that is used to divert attention from the real issue or topic at hand. It is often used in arguments, debates, and puzzles, and takes the form of a misleading or irrelevant clue or piece of information that distracts from the actual solution. The term "red herring" is thought to have originated from the practice of using the strong-smelling fish to train hunting dogs to follow a scent, where the dogs would become distracted by the smell of the herring and lose their focus on the actual trail. In a similar way, a red herring in literature or argumentation is used to mislead or distract the reader or listener from the main point or issue being discussed.

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They help to sharpen critical thinking skills: By being aware of red herrings and knowing how to recognize and avoid them, you can sharpen your critical thinking skills. This means that you will be better able to evaluate arguments, make informed decisions, and communicate more effectively with others.
They expose manipulation and deception: Red herrings are often used to manipulate or deceive people. By being aware of red herrings, you can better recognize when someone is trying to manipulate or deceive you. This will help you avoid falling for false or misleading information.
They help to focus on the main issue: Red herrings are often used to distract from the main issue or argument. By avoiding red herrings, you can stay focused on the main issue or argument at hand. This will help you to make more informed decisions and communicate more effectively with others.
They promote effective communication: By avoiding red herrings, you can communicate more effectively with others. This means that you will be able to present your ideas and arguments more clearly and persuasively, and you will be better able to understand and respond to the arguments of others.

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Recognizing red herrings can be challenging, but it's an important skill for critical thinking and problem-solving. Here are some tips for recognizing red herrings:

1. Pay attention to the argument: Red herrings are often used to distract from the main argument. If someone is bringing up information that seems unrelated to the main topic, or if they're changing the subject without addressing the original argument, it could be a red herring.

2. Look for emotional appeals: Red herrings often rely on emotional appeals, such as fear or anger, to distract from the real issue. If someone is using emotional language or making personal attacks, rather than addressing the argument, it could be a red herring.

3. Check the relevance: Red herrings are often irrelevant to the main topic. If someone is bringing up information that seems to have no bearing on the original argument, or if they're making a point that doesn't really relate to the topic at hand, it could be a red herring.

4. Consider the source: Red herrings are often used by people who are trying to avoid addressing the real issue. If someone has a history of using distraction tactics or if they seem to be avoiding the main topic, it could be a red herring.

5. Stay focused: Red herrings can be very distracting, but it's important to stay focused on the real issue. If someone is trying to distract you with irrelevant information or emotional appeals, try to steer the conversation back to the main topic.

By being aware of these tactics and staying focused on the main argument, you can more easily recognize and avoid falling for red herrings.

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This is a type of red herring in which someone cites an irrelevant or unqualified authority to support their argument. For example, if someone argues against a scientific theory by citing the opinion of a celebrity or politician who has no relevant expertise, they are using a red herring.

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This is a type of red herring in which someone argues that a particular action or decision will inevitably lead to a series of negative consequences, without providing evidence to support the claim. For example, if someone argues against legalizing marijuana by saying that it will lead to a breakdown of society, they are using a slippery slope fallacy and a red herring.

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This is a type of red herring in which someone argues that a particular idea or practice should be accepted or rejected based solely on its history or tradition. For example, if someone argues against changing a long-standing policy by saying "we've always done it this way," they are using a red herring.