Question

What is an example of hypercorrection in the English language?

Answer 1

Hint: A hypercorrection is an incorrect correction made to a sentence or expression in order to prevent non - standard spelling or grammar. A speaker or writer who creates a hypercorrection usually assumes that the style is more "right," normative, or otherwise superior, sometimes combined with a need to look formal or knowledgeable, due to a misconception of certain standards.

Complete answer:
A hypercorrection happens when the language and grammatical rules are over applied, misapplied, or even interpreted in a manner that attempts to construct proper English language but fails to do so.
Hypercorrection is a flaw in which well-intentioned authors and editors brutalize the vocabulary they're trying to excel at. This category of errors is caused by following a false superstition about proper structure, ignoring a point of grammar, or trying to fit an entire idiom in inappropriate places.

Some common areas where one ends up at a hypercorrection are:
- When a singular verb is there in the sentence and one uses ‘a number of’ after the verb. The same rule applies to other words like ‘majority’, ‘handful’ and a few other terms.
Example: “A number of people is coming” (Here ‘is’ is the wrong term, it was supposed to be ‘are’)
- When we are supposed to use ‘like’ in the sentence but use ‘as’ instead is another hypercorrection.
Example: “She walks as a cat” (Here in place of ‘as’ it has to be ‘like’ otherwise it is incorrect)
- Some adverbs do not end with –ly, such adverbs are called ‘flat adverbs’. Some examples for such adverbs are: seldom, doubtless, much, etc.
Example: “I seldomly go to the park” (Here –ly for the word ‘seldom’ is unnecessary and incorrect)
- Instead of using the word ‘who’ some people make a mistake and use ‘whom’.
Example: “The head chef Reya, whom Tara knows is a good cook.” (Here ‘whom’ is used where ‘who’ was the right companion to the linking verb)


Note: Speakers of less prestige language varieties that attempt to produce forms synonymous with comparatively higher prestige varieties, often in cases when speakers who belong to such varieties would not, are known to engage in hypercorrection. Hyperurbanism is a term used by some critics to describe this form of development.