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hypercorrection

[ hahy-per-kuh-rek-shuhn ]
/ 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 ofbetween you and I for between you and me, by analogy with you and I as the subject of a sentence.
the form so substituted.

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Compare hyperform, hyperurbanism.

Origin of hypercorrection

First recorded in 1930–35; hyper- + correction

Words nearby hypercorrection

hyperchromic anemia, hyperchylia, hyperchylomicronemia, hyperconscious, hypercorrect, hypercorrection, hypercortisolism, hypercritic, hypercritical, hypercriticism, hypercryesthesia
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for hypercorrection

British Dictionary definitions for hypercorrection

hypercorrection
/ (ˌhaɪpəkəˈrɛkʃən) /

noun

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''
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012