What is "hypercorrection"

n. 1 (context linguistics English) The use of a nonstandard form due to a belief that it is more formal or more correct than the corresponding standard form. 2 (context linguistics English) A nonstandard form so used.

In linguistics or usage, hypercorrection is a non-standard usage that results from the over-application of a perceived rule of grammar or a usage prescription. A speaker or writer who produces a hypercorrection generally believes that the form is correct through misunderstanding of these rules, often combined with a desire to appear formal or educated.

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.

Hypercorrection is sometimes found among speakers of less prestigious language varieties who produce forms associated with high-prestige varieties, even in situations where speakers of those varieties would not. Some commentators call such production hyperurbanism.

Hypercorrection is the higher likelihood of correcting a general knowledge error when originally certain as opposed to unsure of the information. For example, a student taking a test on state capitals is certain that Pittsburgh is the capital of Pennsylvania. When the test is returned, the answer has been corrected to Harrisburg. Shocked that the answer was incorrect, the student is more likely to make sure to remember the correct answer than the student who was originally unsure about the answer.

This general pattern was found long ago in educational research, but it was only named recently in 2001 by psychologists Janet Metcalfe and Brady Butterfield of Columbia University. However, it was originally noticed in 1976 by Kulhavey when students who were more likely to correct wrong test answers on a later test, were certain that their original response was right. After 2001, there was an increase in studies by various authors.

Even though hypercorrection was found in educational research, it is not limited only to the learning environment. General knowledge errors can be learned from books, movies, or television, especially with the natural tendency to believe things are true. An example is the misconception that raindrops are tear-shaped. Understandably, many believe this because of depictions of such raindrops on weather channels.

Hypercorrection has been replicated numerous times by various people. In the past few years, hypercorrection research has focused on the reasons behind it and whether people of all ages show this effect. There has been evidence that surprise or embarrassment of getting the answer wrong has a role in hypercorrection. For example, a person says that scallops come from trees. This person's friends laugh, pointing out that scallops come from the ocean. Embarrassed that the response was incorrect, the person makes sure to remember this fact to avoid embarrassment. Another factor implicated in hypercorrection is more vocabulary or knowledge about answers that the individual was certain instead of unsure about. Recent research has found that subjects are likely to guess or pick the correct answer on retests when they were sure about their response on the original test. This suggests that familiarity with the information may be part of producing the hypercorrection effect.

There have been implications that age plays a role because not all people show this effect. Most studies in the past have asked young adults to answer general knowledge questions. Recently, older adults have been tested and have not shown the hypercorrection effect. However, whether older adults are better at correcting knowledge they are unsure about or they are worse at hypercorrection is still to be determined. The result for children are not concrete, but some say that the prefrontal cortex is important to hypercorrection. This would be a plausible explanation since elders may have impaired prefrontal corteces and children's may be underdeveloped.