If you fix one thing in your English pronunciation, make it word stress. Getting the stress right matters more for being understood than individual sounds. Here's why and how.
Why stress matters more than sounds
English listeners rely heavily on stress patterns to recognize words. 'PHOtograph' vs 'phoTOGraphy' — put the stress in the wrong place and even a perfectly pronounced word becomes hard to understand.
Learn the stress with the word
Whenever you learn a new word, learn where the stress falls. Mark it, say it, and lock it in. Getting stress right from the start prevents a habit that's hard to unlearn later.
Stress the right words in a sentence
Frequently asked questions
Why is word stress so important?
English listeners rely on stress to recognize words — wrong stress makes even well-pronounced words hard to understand.
How do I learn word stress?
Learn the stress placement together with each new word, and practice it aloud.
What about sentence stress?
Emphasize the important words and reduce the rest — that rhythm makes you clear and natural.
How can I master this?
Book a free 30-minute class to work on it 1-on-1 with Digby R. Kerr.
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