30 Sep “Of” vs. “Off”
“Of” and “off.” Similar spellings, different pronunciations. Did you know that the words “of” and “off” have different vowels? Also, though both are spelled with an “f,” only word contains a...
10 Aug “Fourteen” vs. “Forty”
Have you ever had to repeat yourself when saying “fourteen” or “forty,” “seventeen” or “seventy”? Here are some pointers that may help people understand these numbers more easily when you...
10 Aug How to Pronounce “x” in American English
“X” is for “xylophone.” That’s what all the kids learn, anyway. For adults who are learning American English pronunciation, “x” is for /ks/ or /gz/. Two Consonants The letter “x” typically represents...
29 Jun Voicing Basics
In your throat, you have a set of vocal folds (or vocal chords). These folds can either be pulled apart or pushed together when producing speech sounds. If you pronounce...
08 Jun “con” and “com”: How Stress Affects the Vowel
Pronunciation of “con” and “com” can seem tricky in words like “complete,” “concert,” and “condition.” When do you use /ə/ (“uh”) and when do you use /ɑ/ (“ah”)? Why is...
31 May Top 5 Words with Phantom (Silent) Letters in American English
Have you ever noticed that letters in some English words are not pronounced? Here are the top five words that surprise non-native English speakers in my accent training courses. 1. Bomb The “b”...