A simple equivocation is when someone switches the meaning of a word in the middle of their argument. For example, they may begin by using the word "right" to describe the direction opposite to left, then later use it to describe being correct in some aspect. They did not use these words in two separate claims but linked them to one subject, hoping that you did not notice it.

In their text, the Bluedorns give an example where a person states that they committed an unpleasant and wrongful act because it was a "habit" and therefore they could not help it. Subsequently, they accuse the other person of engaging in similar habits, such as brushing their teeth or walking after dinner, which are also considered forms of "habit." This is an equivocation, as the word ‘habit’ denotes two different behaviours. One developed on purpose (probably for good reasons), while the other one denotes helplessness. Equivocations are logic fallacies. Some are unintentional, others not so. Some can serve as a source of humor or poetry.

Equivocation is when you call two things the same thing, but it can also be when someone uses ambiguity to cover up something they do not want to admit. They might use words like "few", “a couple of times", “hardly ever", etc. When you enquire deeper about the frequency of their actions, you may be surprised by their truthful response.

These deceptive statements are called “bad faith statements”.  Other “bad faith statement” fallacies could be the “Red Herring” and the “Straw Man”.

This format often expresses equivocation: "If X is Y and Y is Z, then Z must be X". Below are a few examples: