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An appeal to pity (also called argumentum ad misericordiam) is a logical fallacy in which someone tries to win support for their argument or idea by exploiting their opponent's feelings of pity or guilt. The appeal to pity is a specific kind of appeal to emotion.

"You must have graded my exam incorrectly. I studied very hard for weeks specifically because I knew my career depended on getting a good grade. If you give me a failing grade I'm ruined!"

"I hope you like my proposal. It took me six years to write and I don't know what I'd do if you rejected it."

"I really deserve a raise. Unless I make more money I may lose my home."

"I hope you find the defendant not guilty of embezzlement. Just look at the poor guy, he's in a wheelchair. Show some sympathy!"

Recognizing an argument as an appeal to pity does not necessarily invalidate the factual assertions underlying the statement. To illustrate, consider that the exam in the first example may have indeed been graded incorrectly, and all the other facts asserted in the example may indeed be correct. Nevertheless, the appeal to pity is considered a logical fallacy when it invites a conclusion that does not necessarily follow on the basis of valid deductive inference.

The inconsistency of the argument is more readily apparent when the statement is restructured:

   I always pass an exam if I studied it for weeks and my career depends on it.
   Yesterday's exam I studied for weeks and my career depends on it.
   Therefore, I passed yesterday's exam.

   Conclusion: If you say I did not pass, you must be incorrect.

There may be other reasons why someone may choose to accept the invited conclusion, but the logical consistency of this specific argument is not one of them (see also, argument from fallacy).

• Appeal to consequences
• Martyr Fallacy
• Underdog Fallacy

Fallacies of Irrelevance v • d • e
Absurdity | Argument from ignorance | Argument from silence | Bandwagon fallacy Bulverism | Irrelevant conclusion | Middle ground | Missing argument Proof by assertion | Straw man | Style over substance | Two wrongs make a right
Appeal to consequences:
	Appeal to force | Wishful thinking
Appeal to emotion:
	Fear | Flattery | Nature | Pity | Repugnance | Ridicule | Spite
Genetic fallacy:
	Personal attack (Appeal to motive | Guilt by association | Poisoning the well | You too) Appeal to authority (Novelty | Poverty | Tradition | Wealth) | Chronological snobbery | Etymology
Other types of fallacy