Here are some of the most common mistakes:

1. “TH” sound replaced with T or D

• think → tink ❌
• this → dis ❌

Correct pronunciation requires placing your tongue lightly between your teeth.

2. Over-pronouncing silent letters

Words like “comfortable” or “listen” are often pronounced too literally.

3. Wrong word stress

Incorrect stress can make words difficult to understand.

Example:
PHOtograph vs phoTOgraphy

4. Speaking too slowly or carefully

This reduces natural rhythm and fluency.

How to improve

• Practice minimal pairs (ship/sheep, live/leave)
• Listen and repeat short sentences daily
• Focus on rhythm, not individual sounds

Final thoughts

Small pronunciation changes can dramatically improve how natural your English sounds.