| 词组 | hypercorrection |
| 释义 | hypercorrection Sir Isaac Newton set down three laws of motion, the third of which is often stated thus: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." If we were to translate this—albeit roughly—to apply to usage and grammar, we might get something like "For every correction there is an equal and opposite hypercorrection." Hypercorrection is a term used by linguists and grammarians for "equal and opposite" errors made in the course of avoiding other errors which are frequently subjected to correction. The most frequently discussed hypercorrections involve pronouns, especially the use of a nominative pronoun in a slot calling for an objective pronoun. Examples: • ... the most irritating thing to we military people — four-star general on television, 6 Nov. 1983 • ... designed for you and I —radio commercial, 3 Mar. 1980 Such pronoun mistakes are particularly frequent in compound objects such as you and I, my wife and I. How many of these are really the result of hypercorrection is a matter that can be disputed, since such usages can be found dating back farther than the inception of traditional grammar. between you and I is frequently mentioned as a hypercorrection; yet it can be found as long ago as the diary of Samuel Pepys, who wrote "between my wife and I" on 5 July 1663. And we hear it put in the mouths of characters in Restoration comedies: • ... Impertinent people, which, between you and I Jack, are so numerous —Thomas Shadwell, The Sullen Lovers, 1668 You will find more on this subject at between you and I and at pronouns. Another hypercorrect pronoun usage is the substitution of whom for who in sentences like "Whom shall I say is calling?" You will find more on this at who, whom 1. Another common hypercorrection involves the use of an -ly adverb where an adjective or flat adverb is called for: • ... there's an awfully lot of methane and ammonia in the universe —exobiologist quoted in Science News, 16 Aug. 1969 • ... the seldomly used player —network television baseball announcer, Fall 1986 • ... because he tested positively for steroids —network television sports announcer, 25 Dec. 1986 • ... unless my eyes have gone badly —cable television sports announcer, 3 Nov. 1985 • ... go home and think deeply, longly, and ... —Boston city councilman, 4 Aug. 1983 • I once had a dentist who never failed to say "open widely" —John Ciardi, in Harper 1985 Lamberts 1972 lists the disputed adverbs muchly, thusly, and soonly as forms created by hypercorrection. Similarly we will sometimes find well for good: • ... make your dog look as well as possible —dog handler at Westminster dog show, 11 Feb. 1985 • A correct use, cited just to show how well it sounds —Copperud 1964 Some instances of what look like hypercorrect adverbs after linking verbs may be lingering traces of an older style of using adverbs instead of adjectives after such verbs. You will find one common example of this practice discussed at look 1. Another substitution occasionally mentioned as a hypercorrection is the use of as in place of like: • All three lamps are pure brass, and not brass plated, as some similar looking products —advt., New Yorker, 1 Feb. 1988 This is another practice with long-standing antecedents. See like, as, as if 2. Perrin & Ebbitt 1972 also mentions as hypercorrec-tions the substitution of some verb forms for others, such as using lie for lay, and certain pronunciations. Robert F. Ilson, in The English Language Today (1985), mentions the involuted sentences typically produced in trying to avoid a terminal preposition. And Allan Met-calf, in American Speech, Fall 1984, mentions a new one: the insistence by some on using his or her as a non-sexist substitute for generic his or disapproved their is leading to the use of the singular form even when the antecedent is plural. See he, he or she. Hypercorrections are also called hyperurbanisms. You may find them discussed under this heading in Johnson 1982, for instance. See also subjunctive. |
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