Amphiboly comes from the Greek word amphybolía, meaning ambiguity.
In essence, this fallacy hinges on the meaning of a sentence being open to multiple ways of interpretation. Often, this even has a humoristic effect and it is therefore seldomly used as a serious attempt to win an argument by use of this fallacy.
While the individual words in an amphibolous statement may only have one interpretation, the amphiboly arises from the complex nature of the sentence: from the interplay of words.
Example 1
I’m in favour of subsidies which bring neighborhoods together.
Is the speaking in favour of all subsidies, or only those that bring neighborhoods together?
Example 2
I don’t want to work for that boring company.
Famously, Elon Musk’s drilling company named the Boring Company, uses an amphiboly as its company name.
Example 3
I’m in favour of subsidies which bring neighborhoods together.
Is the speaking in favour of all subsidies, or only those that bring neighborhoods together?