10 Common Mistakes North Americans Make When Doing a British Accent

If you're a North American actor attempting a British accent, chances are you’re making at least a few mistakes that could give you away.

From Hollywood blockbusters to community theatre, attempts at British accents are everywhere, and while some are brilliant, others… well, let’s just say Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins still haunts us.

So, what are the most common mistakes? Here are ten pitfalls to avoid if you want your British accent to sound authentic.

1. Using a Generic "British" Accent

One of the biggest rookie mistakes is thinking there’s just one British accent. Saying you can “do British” is like claiming you can “do North American.” England alone has dozens of distinct accents—RP (Received Pronunciation) has several versions within living memory, Cockney (just one of several accents still occasionally heard in London), Estuary, Yorkshire, and several others in the North, just to name a few—each tied to specific regions and social classes.

Pro Tip: Choose a specific accent and study it deeply. Don’t assume the RP you've acquired is a one-type-fits-all, and NEVER blend bits of different regions together—it’s instantly obvious to a British ear.

2. Overdoing the "Poshness"

Thanks to popular culture, many North Americans default to a hyper-articulated, aristocratic RP (think The Crown). While RP is still used in formal contexts, the vast majority of modern Brits don’t speak anything like King Charles. Over-polishing every vowel makes your accent sound dated and cartoonish.

Pro Tip: For a more current sound, explore Estuary English, which is a blend of RP and London influences. It’s what many contemporary Southeast English characters use on screen.

3. Dropping the R (When You Shouldn’t)

Yes, most British accents (outside of Scotland and Southwest England) are non-rhotic, meaning they drop the r in words like car or mother. But that doesn’t mean you drop all of them.

Pro Tip: Know when to keep or drop the r—and if you’re doing RP or Cockney, make sure you only pronounce it when followed by a vowel sound (e.g., car engine vs. car). This is called linking 'r'.

4. Know your BATH words from your TRAP words

In most accents south of Birmingham, words like fast and grass don’t have the flat "a" sound heard in "cat". Instead, the vowel is longer and more open and back.

Pro Tip: Pay attention to which words are in which set. Southern English accents generally use the longer “ah” sound, while Midland and Northern accents stick with a shorter “a.”

5. Knowing the Ups and Downs

British accents have different musicality compared to North American speech. Many North Americans keep their speech rhythm too flat or emphasize the wrong syllables when trying on British accents.

Pro Tip: British speech often has a fall-rise intonation, where the voice drops and then lifts at the end of phrases. Listen for this in interviews and everyday speech.

6. Know your T!

British speakers handle the letter "T" differently depending on the region. RP speakers aspirate it crisply (e.g., tart, butter), while Cockneys would usually soften all but the initial t to a glottal stop. Meanwhile, Estuary English speakers will usually compromise by glottalizing only the final t. in tart.

Modern RP speakers will often glottalize a t if it's not followed by a vowel sound (e.g. "You're late. Eight minutes!").

Pro Tip: Match your "T"s to the accent. Don’t overuse the glottal stop—it’s common in Cockney but out of place in Classic RP.

7. Misplaced Stress

Certain words instantly reveal a non-native if pronounced with an unusual stress pattern. For example:

• cigarette (UK: sig-uh-RET; NAm: SIG-uh-ret)

• café (UK: CAFF-ay; NAm: caff-AY)

• advertisement (UK: ad-VERT-iss-ment, NAm: ad-ver-TIZE-ment)
  

Pro Tip: Identify key words that differ between accents and practice them deliberately.

8. Over-Rounding your LOT

Many North Americans over-exaggerate the rounded o in the LOT set of words like got or song. In actuality, modern British accents often use only a slightly rounded vowel (with slight engagement of the orbicularis oris) with the tongue still fairly low at the back.

Pro Tip: Listen closely to how LOT vowels change slightly across different accents.

8. Confusing your LOT/CLOTH and THOUGHT sets

This is a game changer. Most North American accents have the same vowel sound in CLOTH syllables (off, cough, broth, cross, etc.) as that in THOUGHT syllables (caught, naughty, bought, cause, draw, talk, etc.), but have a different LOT vowel (stop, pot, sock, notch, Goth, etc.)—while incidentally, most Canadians and Western Americans tend to say them all with the same vowel.

Most modern English accents, however, tend to have the same vowel in CLOTH and LOT syllables in stark contrast to a usually much longer (and in the Midlands, Northeast, and Southeast, a much more rounded) THOUGHT vowel.

Pro Tip: Drill lists of these words with the appropriate vowel sounds. Get to know which words belong in which set!

10. Forgetting the Context

An accent is more than just sound—it reflects identity and culture. Using

an accent without understanding the underlying attitude or social cues can make your performance feel hollow.

Pro Tip: Study how people speak as much as what they say. What’s their posture? Their rhythm? Their worldview? This brings the accent to life.

Final Thoughts

Getting a British accent right means respecting the details—from vowel shifts to cultural nuances. Whether you’re preparing for a role or just having fun, investing time in accurate listening and practice pays off.

If you want to dive deeper, consider working with a dialect coach (like me!). After all, nothing pulls an audience out of a story faster than a dodgy accent.

Got questions about a specific accent? Drop them in the comments—I’m always up for a good dialect chat.