overcorrects
Fixes past the mark
Overcorrects means to correct something too much, creating a new problem in the opposite direction.
A driver who overcorrects after drifting right may swerve into oncoming traffic.
The term extends beyond physical adjustments: The company overcorrects for past criticism by becoming overly cautious.
The implication is that moderation would have worked better.
Excessive counterbalancing reaction
- overshootGo beyond intended point
- overadjustmentExcessive compensating change
- recalibrationAdjusting measurement standards again
- fine-tuningSmall precise optimization adjustments
calibration · steering · swerve · deviation · alignment · compensation · rebalancing · swing
Disproportionate emotional response
- overreachExceed one's capacity
- overkillUnnecessary additional effort
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- overcautionExcessive care, limiting action
overemphasis · overzealous · miscalculation · error · blunder · misstep · distortion · overestimation
Reverse one's stance
- retractionFormal withdrawal of statement
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
- overcompensationExcessive counterbalancing reaction
- reversalComplete change of direction
amends · redress · embarrassment · defensiveness · self-consciousness · awkwardness · contrition · damage control
Error from excessive correctness
- prescriptivismEnforcing linguistic correctness
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- whomObjective form of who
syntax · usage · accent · dialect · standardization · sociolinguistics · register · formality
overcompensation
Excessive counterbalancing reaction
- overshootGo beyond intended point
- overadjustmentExcessive compensating change
- recalibrationAdjusting measurement standards again
fine-tuning · calibration · steering · swerve · deviation · alignment · compensation · rebalancing · swing · feedback loop
overreaction
Disproportionate emotional response
- overreachExceed one's capacity
- overkillUnnecessary additional effort
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
overcaution · overemphasis · overzealous · miscalculation · error · blunder · misstep · distortion · overestimation · heavy-handed
backpedal
Reverse one's stance
- retractionFormal withdrawal of statement
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
- overcompensationExcessive counterbalancing reaction
reversal · amends · redress · embarrassment · defensiveness · self-consciousness · awkwardness · contrition · damage control · walking back
hypercorrection
Error from excessive correctness
- prescriptivismEnforcing linguistic correctness
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
whom · syntax · usage · accent · dialect · standardization · sociolinguistics · register · formality · speech
overcorrectsundercorrects
Adjusts less than needed
undercompensates · underreacts · fine-tunes · tweaks · nudges
overcorrectsignores
Refuses to acknowledge
neglects · leaves alone · lets slide · overlooks · disregards
overcorrected, overcorrection, overcorrect, overcorrecting, overcorrections