1. an error made by overcorrecting speech or writing in an attempt to follow a perceived rule of grammar or pronunciation, often resulting in a form that is actually incorrect.
Usage: linguistics; common in language learning and formal speech contexts

Examples

• Saying 'between you and I' is a hypercorrection; the correct form is 'between you and me.'
• The student's hypercorrection of 'ain't' to 'am not' in every sentence made her speech sound unnatural.
• Many non-native speakers make hypercorrections when they try too hard to apply grammar rules they've learned.
• Pronouncing the 'g' in 'ing' words as a hard sound is a common hypercorrection among learners.
• His hypercorrection of vowels gave away that he was trying to imitate an accent he didn't naturally speak.
• Hypercorrection often occurs when speakers are self-conscious about their language use.
• The phrase 'for you and I to decide' is a hypercorrection that appears frequently in formal writing.