hypercorrection

[ hahy-per-kuh-rek-shuh n ]

/ ˌhaɪ pər kəˈrɛk ʃən /

noun Linguistics.

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.

the form so substituted.

Nearby words

hyperchromic anemia, hyperchylia, hyperchylomicronemia, hyperconscious, hypercorrect, hypercorrection, hypercortisolism, hypercritic, hypercritical, hypercriticism, hypercryesthesia

Compare hyperform, hyperurbanism.

Origin of hypercorrection

First recorded in 1930–35; hyper- + correction

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hypercorrection

Fear of offending the grammar police can even produce a novel type of error called a hypercorrection.
Go Ahead, End With a Preposition: Grammar Rules We All Can Live With|Nick Romeo|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for hypercorrection