What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overpaying
Example
I think I'm overpaying for this car. [overpaying: present participle]
Example
The company was accused of overpaying their executives. [overpaying: gerund]
overcompensating
Example
He's overcompensating for his lack of experience by being overly aggressive. [overcompensating: present participle]
Example
She felt guilty about forgetting her friend's birthday, so she overcompensated by buying an expensive gift. [overcompensated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overpaying is more commonly used than overcompensating in everyday language, especially in the context of financial transactions. Overcompensating is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overpaying and overcompensating?
Both overpaying and overcompensating are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
