Pseudoscience often contradicts itself, even in its own terms.
The word "pseudo" means fake. The surest way to spot a fake is to know as much as possible about the real thing—in this case, about science itself.
Pseudoscience always achieves a reduction to absurdity if pursued far enough.
Pseudoscience deliberately creates mystery where none
exists, by omitting crucial information and important details.
Pseudoscience attempts to persuade with rhetoric, propaganda, and
misrepresentation rather than valid evidence
Pseudoscience makes extraordinary claims and advances fantastic
theories that contradict what is known about nature.
Pseudoscience displays an indifference to facts
Pseudoscience "research" is invariably sloppy
Pseudoscience begins with a hypothesis—usually one which is appealing emotionally,
and spectacularly implausible—and then looks only for items which appear to support it
Pseudoscience is indifferent to criteria of valid evidence
Pseudoscience relies heavily on subjective validation
clipped from: www.quackwatch.org