hypercorrection
Wrong by trying
Hypercorrection is a grammatical or pronunciation error made by overcorrecting—applying a rule where it doesn't belong.
Someone taught that "between you and I" sounds educated may extend the pattern to between you and I when between you and me is correct.
Saying "whom" where "who" belongs, or adding an unnecessary silent letter in pronunciation, are hypercorrections.
The impulse to sound proper backfires.
Incorrect vocal rendering
- elocutionFormal speaking skill
- articulationClear vocal expression
- enunciationClarity of spoken words
- dictionChoice of words
often · forte · nuclear · espresso · et cetera · library · arctic · flaccid
Enforcing linguistic correctness
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- whomObjective form of who
- subjunctiveVerb mood expressing unreality
- conjugationVerb form variation system
tense · pluralization · case · agreement · preposition · pronoun · participle · gerund
Excessive counterbalancing reaction
- misapplicationIncorrect or improper usage
- overshootGo beyond intended point
- misanalysisIncorrect breakdown of data
- overgeneralizationUnwarranted broad application
false analogy · mistake · blunder · misstep · overadjustment · backformation · miscorrection · misinterpretation
Reputation commanding admiration
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
- dialectRegional language variety
- standardizationImplementing uniform technical specifications
- stigmatizationMarking as disgraceful
code-switching · style-shifting · vernacular · sociolect · idiolect · class · upward mobility · formality
mispronunciation
Incorrect vocal rendering
- elocutionFormal speaking skill
- articulationClear vocal expression
- enunciationClarity of spoken words
diction · often · forte · nuclear · espresso · et cetera · library · arctic · flaccid · jewelry
prescriptivism
Enforcing linguistic correctness
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- whomObjective form of who
- subjunctiveVerb mood expressing unreality
conjugation · tense · pluralization · case · agreement · preposition · pronoun · participle · gerund · infinitive
overcompensation
Excessive counterbalancing reaction
- misapplicationIncorrect or improper usage
- overshootGo beyond intended point
- misanalysisIncorrect breakdown of data
overgeneralization · false analogy · mistake · blunder · misstep · overadjustment · backformation · miscorrection · misinterpretation · overextension
prestige
Reputation commanding admiration
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
- dialectRegional language variety
- standardizationImplementing uniform technical specifications
stigmatization · code-switching · style-shifting · vernacular · sociolect · idiolect · class · upward mobility · formality · appropriateness
- Misspellingsmisspelling, typo, spelling error, mistype, teh
- mistakesmistake, mistakes, slip, error, errors
- dialectsregional dialect, local dialect, patois, vernaculars, vernacular
- language normscorrectness, usage, standard language, proper grammar, prescriptivism
- Language Standardsstandard language, prescriptivism, proper grammar, proper usage, correctness
- language varietiesdialect, idiolect, sociolect, vernacular, accent
hypercorrectioncareless error
Fault from inattention
slang · colloquialism · regularization · illiteracy · solecism
correct, correction, overcorrected, overcorrection, overcorrects, overcorrecting