When describing an argument, you should refer to it as?

• A. Logical
• B. Persuasive
• C. True
• D. Valid

Answer: (D)

In deductive reasoning, the proper label for an argument’s form is its validity. A valid argument is one where, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true as a matter of logical form. It’s about structure, not whether the conclusion is actually true in the real world. The other terms miss the mark: “logical” is too broad and describes reasoning in general, “persuasive” refers to how convincing the argument is rather than its form, and “true” comments on the conclusion’s content rather than whether the argument’s form guarantees that conclusion from the premises. If the premises are true and the form guarantees a true conclusion, the argument is also sound, but the standard term for describing the argument itself is valid.