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What is it?
This occurs when important background information or details are left out, leading to a distorted or incomplete picture of the situation. It can be done intentionally to mislead, or unintentionally due to carelessness.
Examples
Quoting someone as saying 'I hate my job' without mentioning they were reading a line from a play.
Reporting that a company's profits are down without mentioning that the entire industry is in a recession.
How to Avoid This
Provide all relevant information needed for your audience to understand the issue fully. Consider what background knowledge they might be missing. Be fair and present a balanced picture.
How to Counter This
Supply the missing context. 'The quote you used is taken out of context. Here's the full sentence...' By providing the missing information, you can correct the distorted view.