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Quintessensual
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An enthymeme is an informally-stated syllogism which omits either one of the premises or the conclusion. Whenever a premise is omitted in an enthymeme (and understood by the reader), it is assumed to be either a truism or an acceptable
and non-controversial generalization.
But sometimes the omitted premise is neither a truism nor one with which the reader would agree, and the enthymeme then becomes a logical fallacy. Aside from its everyday use as a logical
shorthand, enthymeme finds its greatest use in writing as an instrument for slightly understating yet clearly pointing out some assertion, often in the form of omitted conclusion. By making the reader work out the syllogism for her/himself, you impress the conclusion upon him/her, yet in a way gentler than if you spelled it out in so many words.
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991211
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