hypercorrected

Hypercorrected refers to a linguistic phenomenon where a speaker or writer makes an error by attempting to correct a perceived or actual mistake, often in a way that creates a new, unintended error. This typically occurs when someone is trying to avoid a common pronunciation, grammatical construction, or spelling that they believe is incorrect or socially undesirable. The attempt to overcompensate leads to an unnatural or erroneous form.

A common example involves the use of pronouns. If someone is taught that "between you and I" is incorrect and that "between you and me" is correct, they might then incorrectly apply this rule in situations where the subjective case is actually appropriate, saying something like "The prize is for you and I" instead of "The prize is for you and me." This is a misapplication of a correct rule due to an overzealous correction.

Another instance can be found in pronunciation. Someone might avoid pronouncing the "t" in words like "often" because they've heard it's silent, and then proceed to pronounce the "t" in other words where it is typically pronounced, such as "twenty," leading to an unusual pronunciation like "twen-tee."

Hypercorrection is often driven by a desire to appear more educated or to adhere to perceived norms of standard language. However, the result is often a deviation from the actual standard. It highlights the complexities of language learning and the subtle rules that govern correct usage. The errors produced by hypercorrection are distinct from simple mistakes; they are the product of an attempted correction that has gone awry.