Editing Hypercorrection (section)

{{short description|Non-standard language usage from the overapplication of a perceived prescriptive rule}}
{{about|language usage|the psychology use|Hypercorrection (psychology)}}

In [[sociolinguistics]], '''hypercorrection''' is the [[nonstandard dialect|nonstandard]] [[usage (language)|use of language]] that results from the overapplication of a perceived rule of [[Prescriptive grammar|language-usage prescription]]. A speaker or writer who produces a hypercorrection generally believes through a misunderstanding of such rules that the form or phrase they use is more "correct", [[standard language|standard]], or otherwise preferable, often combined with a desire to appear formal or educated.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Kenneth G. |author-link=Kenneth G. Wilson (author) |url=http://www.bartleby.com/68/62/3062.html |title=The Columbia Guide to Standard American English |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |year=1993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021120153706/https://www.bartleby.com/68/62/3062.html |archive-date=20 November 2002 |url-status=dead}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Labov |first=William |title=Sociolinguistic patterns |date=1991 |publisher=University of Philadelphia press |isbn=978-0-8122-1052-1 |series=Conduct and communication series |location=Philadelphia |pages=126}}</ref>

Linguistic hypercorrection occurs when a real or imagined grammatical rule is applied in an inappropriate context, so that an attempt to be "correct" leads to an incorrect result. It does not occur when a speaker follows "a natural speech instinct", according to [[Otto Jespersen]] and Robert J. Menner.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Menner |first=Robert J. |date=1937 |title=Hypercorrect forms in American English |journal=[[American Speech]] |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=167–78 |doi=10.2307/452423 |jstor=452423}}</ref>

Hypercorrection can be found among speakers of less [[Prestige (sociolinguistics)|prestigious]] [[Variety (linguistics)|language varieties]] who attempt to produce forms associated with high-prestige varieties, even in situations where speakers of those varieties would not. Some commentators call such production ''hyperurbanism''.<ref name="MWDEU">{{Cite encyclopedia |year=1994 |title=hypercorrection |encyclopedia=Merriam Webster's Dictionary of English Usage |publisher=Merriam-Webster |location=[[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield, Massachusetts, US]] |isbn=978-0-87779-132-4}}</ref>

Hypercorrection can occur in many languages and wherever multiple languages or language varieties are in contact.