Each entry on this list of common misconceptions is worded as a correction; the misconceptions themselves are implied rather than stated. These entries are concise summaries; the main subject articles can be consulted for more detail.
Common misconceptions are viewpoints or factoids that are often accepted as true, but which are actually false. They generally arise from conventional wisdom such as old wives' tales , stereotypes , superstitions , fallacies , a misunderstanding of science, or the popularization of pseudoscience.
Some common misconceptions are also considered to be urban legends , and they are sometimes involved in moral panics. View full version with citations. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. This is a combined version of this list that displays on one page. In order to manage page size and loading time, the citations are excluded.
If you want to view the citations, please click the links under each heading. Arts and culture [ edit ]. Business [ edit ]. Fine arts [ edit ]. Food and cooking [ edit ]. Food and drink history [ edit ]. Microwave ovens [ edit ]. Film and television [ edit ]. Language [ edit ]. See also: List of common misconceptions about language learning. English language [ edit ]. Main articles: List of common false etymologies and Common English usage misconceptions.
Law, crime, and military [ edit ]. United States [ edit ]. Literature [ edit ]. Main article: Wikiquote:Misquotations. Music [ edit ]. Classical music [ edit ]. Minute Waltz.
