hypercorrection

[hahy-per-kuh-rek-shuhn]

noun

Linguistics.

1. the substitution, in an inappropriate context, of a pronunciation, grammatical form, or usage thought by the speaker or writer to be appropriate, resulting usually from overgeneralizing in an effort to replace seemingly incorrect forms with correct ones, as the substitution of between you and I for between you and me, by analogy with you and I as the subject of a sentence.

2. the form so substituted.

hypercorrection

/ ˌhaɪpəkəˈrɛkʃən /

noun

1. a mistaken correction to text or speech made through a desire to avoid nonstandard pronunciation or grammar

   ``between you and I'' is a hypercorrection of ``between you and me''

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypercorrection¹

First recorded in 1930–35; hyper- + correction

Example Sentences

But if anything, the hysterical hypercorrection among men has combined our habitual sympathy for them with a plea to extend their exceptionalism.

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But the conviction that between you and I is an error needs a second look, together with the explanation that the phrase is a hypercorrection.

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That leads to an error called a hypercorrection, in which people use a nominative pronoun in an accusative coordination: Give Al Gore and I a chance to bring America back.

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The phrase between you and I appears to be a hypercorrection, which arose when speakers who were corrected for Me and Amanda are going to the mall took away the crude moral that you should always say X and I, never me and X or X and me.

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Season 4 is a brilliant exploration of his hypercorrection in the opposite direction.

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