Specificssuch

Specificssuch is a coined term used in discourse analysis to describe a rhetorical pattern in which a speaker foregrounds a sequence of concrete, particular details as direct support for a claim. The word blends specifics and such, signaling a focus on micro-level evidence presented as representative or authoritative. While not widely standardized, the term appears in discussions of online argumentation, journalism, and persuasive writing as a label for a stylistic move rather than a standalone theory.

In practice, specificssuch involves listing or signaling multiple concrete examples, data points, or anecdotes to anchor an argument. Proponents argue that this approach can increase perceived credibility by providing vivid, tangible anchors. Critics, however, caution that it may function as proof by example, potentially occluding broader evidence, generalizability, or counterexamples. The technique is related to, but distinct from, cherry-picking and anecdotal reasoning, since it centers on the use of specific items to shape interpretation rather than on the mere presence of isolated cases.

Usage and analysis: scholars and media-literacy educators study specificssuch passages to assess whether the selected specifics adequately represent the broader claim and whether the surrounding context supports generalization. They also examine how such a pattern influences readers’ perception of credibility and certainty, and at what point emphasis on particulars may obscure weaker underlying arguments.

Etymology: the term is a contemporary coinage in online communities, formed as a portmanteau of “specifics” and “such.”