overcorrect

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   To correct something more than is necessary, so that a new mistake or problem is created.

   Grammar: Can take an object (overcorrect a sentence) or stand alone (Don't overcorrect).

   Patterns

   • overcorrect something
   • overcorrect for something
   • overcorrect by doing something

   The teacher overcorrected his pronunciation, and he became afraid to speak.

   She overcorrected the steering and the car swerved the other way.

   If you overcorrect every small error, your writing will sound unnatural.

2. 2verbintransitivespecialist

   In language learning, to apply a rule too widely and produce a form that is wrong.

   Grammar: Often used without an object when talking about learners' errors, e.g. 'Children often overcorrect.'

   Patterns

   • overcorrect a rule
   • overcorrect in a language

   Young learners often overcorrect and say 'goed' instead of 'went'.

   He overcorrected the plural rule and wrote 'childrens'.

Word forms

Common combinations

overcorrect a mistake

Try not to overcorrect every mistake in the first draft.

overcorrect for something

The new policy overcorrected for the earlier problem.

tend to overcorrect

Anxious speakers tend to overcorrect themselves.

overcorrect in response

The company overcorrected in response to the criticism.

Synonyms and how they differ

overcompensate

Means to try too hard to balance a weakness, often in behavior rather than language.

overadjust

Means to change something too much, usually a setting or amount, not a rule or error.

Opposites

Word family

overcorrection noun

The act or result of correcting too much.

correct verb

To make something right or accurate.

corrective adjective

Intended to put right something that is wrong.

Commonly confused: overcorrect or overcollect?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “overcorrect”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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