Understanding the Neutral Accent: What Is the Most Neutral American Accent and How to Have One

Have you ever listened to a national news anchor and wondered why they sound so… well, neutral? Or perhaps you’ve been told you have a distinctive accent, making you curious about what a more “standard” way of speaking might sound like.

In this article, you’ll learn exactly what a neutral accent means, explore some neutral accent examples, including the General American accent, and discover how to have a neutral accent yourself. We’ll also settle the debate about which state has the most neutral accent in America.

What is a Neutral Accent?

A neutral accent is simply speech that doesn’t immediately reveal where you’re from. It’s like wearing business casual to a meeting – appropriate everywhere, not drawing attention to itself, and letting your message take center stage instead of your pronunciation.

What many people don’t realize is: everyone has an accent! 

The term “neutral accent” can be somewhat misleading. Many people think a neutral accent means “no accent,” but that’s actually impossible. 

In practical terms, speaking with a neutral accent means:

• Your speech is easily understood across different regions
• Your pronunciation doesn’t contain strong regional markers that might distract listeners
• Your speaking style feels familiar to most Americans thanks to what they hear in media
• Your message comes through clearly without pronunciation getting in the way

When my clients tell me they want to “lose their accent,” what they’re really saying is they want to be understood clearly and taken seriously. A neutral accent doesn’t strip away their personality – it simply removes potential barriers to understanding so your authentic self can shine through.

This kind of speech is incredibly valuable in today’s world, especially if you:

• Speak in professional settings where clarity matters
• Communicate with people from different regions
• Want to ensure your ideas – not your pronunciation – get the attention

What is the Most Neutral American Accent?

If you’ve ever wondered which state has the most neutral accent, the answer might surprise you. The accent considered most neutral in America comes from the Midwest – particularly states like Iowa, Nebraska, and parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

Columbus, Ohio is often singled out as having a particularly neutral American accent. Why? 

When people ask about the most neutral accent in America, they’re usually wondering which regional speech has the fewest distinctive features – the one that won’t immediately make listeners think, “Oh, they’re definitely from ____.”

In the Midwest, people there tend to speak without the distinctive vowel sounds or consonant changes that make other regional accents stand out.

There are a few reasons these areas developed more neutral speech patterns:

• They were settled by diverse groups of English speakers who blended their speech patterns
• They’re far enough from the strong accent regions of the East Coast, Deep South, and distinct Northern areas
• Their speech wasn’t as heavily influenced by immigration patterns that affected coastal speech

This Midwestern speech is what language experts call “General American” – it’s the accent you’ll hear from most national news broadcasters, in Hollywood films, and increasingly in professional environments nationwide.

Neutral American Accent Explained

What Makes Speech Sound “Neutral American”

The neutral American accent (often called General American or Standard American English) has several distinct features that set it apart from regional varieties:

1. The “r” sound is fully pronounced in all positions – whether at the beginning, middle, or end of words (unlike Boston or New York accents where “park the car” might sound like “pahk the cah”)
2. The “t” in the middle of words like “water” and “butter” is pronounced as a soft “d” sound (so “water” sounds more like “wadder”)
3. Vowel sounds stay consistent without the well known changes you hear in Southern, Northern, or Eastern accents
4. Words flow at a moderate pace – not super fast like some Northeastern speech or drawn out like some Southern patterns
5. Voice rises and falls naturally in patterns you’d typically hear on national television

What we consider a “neutral American accent” today is really just a set of pronunciation patterns that have become widely accepted through their frequent use in education, media, and professional settings.

It developed through:

• Broadcasting schools teaching standardized speech to ensure clear communication across regions
• Hollywood movies helping popularize certain speech patterns nationwide
• Corporate America adopting speaking standards that wouldn’t confuse customers or colleagues from different regions

Interestingly, what’s considered “neutral” has shifted over time. If you listen to recordings of broadcasters from the 1940s and 50s, you’ll notice they spoke with what’s called a “Mid-Atlantic accent”-a somewhat artificial blend of American and British speech that sounds noticeably different from today’s neutral American accent.

How to Have a Neutral Accent

So, if you’re looking to modify a regional American accent or adapt your non-native English pronunciation, you can do that with the right practice.

Practical Steps Anyone Can Follow

1. Train Your Ear
   • Listen regularly to neutral accent examples through news broadcasts and podcasts
   • Pay attention to specific sounds, rhythms, and melody patterns
   • Compare your own speech with neutral examples through recordings
2. Master the Key Sounds
   • Focus on the “r” sound in all positions (like in “red,” “party,” and “car”)
   • Practice the “th” sounds (both voiced as in “this” and unvoiced as in “think”)
   • Work on consistent vowel pronunciation, especially challenging sounds like the “a” in “ask” and “dance”
   • Perfect the soft “t” sound in words like “water” and “better”
3. Get the Rhythm Right
   • Record yourself reading news articles with natural pacing
   • Pay attention to which words get emphasized in a sentence
   • Practice connecting words smoothly as in “What_is_it?” rather than “What. Is. It.”
4. Use Proven Practice Techniques
   • Shadow speech by listening to a neutral speaker and repeating along simultaneously
   • Record yourself, analyze your pronunciation, and focus on improvement areas
   • Practice with word pairs that highlight subtle differences (ship/sheep, bat/bet)
   • Use tongue twisters targeting challenging sounds

I strongly advise you focus on one sound or pattern at a time. Master the ‘r’ sound completely before moving on to vowels. This approach gives you a real sense of progress and prevents feeling overwhelmed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When working toward a neutral American accent, watch out for these common pitfalls:

• Over Exaggerating certain sounds, which can make your speech sound unnatural
• Mixing speech patterns by using neutral pronunciation sometimes and regional patterns other times
• Focusing only on individual sounds while neglecting the natural rhythm of speech
• Expecting instant results when accent modification requires consistent practice over time

Remember, the goal isn’t to sound like someone else – it’s to develop speech patterns that make communication easier while still sounding authentically like you

Neutral Accent Examples: Public Figures Who Speak ‘Neutral American’?

If you want to work on the neutral accent by yourself, you can start by shadowing these well-known figures:

• Broadcast journalists: Tom Brokaw (South Dakota), Anderson Cooper, and Lester Holt exemplify the neutral American accent that became standardized in broadcast media
• Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matt Damon (in their natural speaking voices) demonstrate relatively neutral American speech patterns
• Public figures: Former President Barack Obama is often cited as having a neutral American speaking style that resonates across regional boundaries

What these speakers share is clear pronunciation, comfortable pacing, and speech that is clearly understood throughout the USA. The goal should not be to sound like someone else, but to develop speech patterns that make your communication clear and accessible to a wide audience while still sounding authentically like yourself.

The Real Benefits of a Neutral Accent

Professional Advantages

Adopting a more neutral American accent can bring tangible benefits in your work life:

• More career opportunities, but not just in the areas of broadcasting, customer service, and public-facing roles, but many non-native English speakers report that they are actively seeking to improve their pronunciation even in the tech world that is quite diverse in the United States
• Enhanced credibility, as research shows speakers with neutral accents are often perceived as more knowledgeable and authoritative
• Clearer communication with fewer misunderstandings in fast-paced work environments
• Less unconscious bias, as studies have found that strong accents can sometimes trigger unfair perception in professional settings

I’ve seen this transformation firsthand with my clients. One software engineer reported that after developing a more neutral accent, his colleagues interrupted him less in meetings and focused more on his ideas rather than struggling to understand his pronunciation.

Personal and Social Benefits

Beyond the workplace, a neutral accent can improve your everyday life:

• Boosted confidence in social situations and public speaking
• Less frustration from having to repeat yourself less often
• Wider social connections across different regions and contexts
• More control over when you want to emphasize or de-emphasize your original accent

It’s important to understand that developing a neutral accent doesn’t mean abandoning your identity or cultural heritage. Many people effectively switch between different speech patterns depending on the situation. Think of it as adding another valuable skill to your communication toolbox.

Want a broader understanding of how accent reduction works—beyond just the neutral accent? This foundational guide to accent reduction covers timelines, methods, and what results to expect.

Frequently Asked Questions About Neutral Accents

Can anyone develop a neutral American accent?

Yes! With the right guidance and consistent practice, anyone can have a neutral accent. Some people may progress more quickly than others depending on their native language, existing speech patterns, and how often they practice, but the path is open to everyone willing to put in the effort.

How long does it typically take?

The timeline varies based on your starting point and how consistently you practice. Most people notice meaningful improvements within 3-6 months of regular practice. If you hire an accent coach you could develop neutral accent in less than 90 days, with as little as 30 minutes of daily practice.

Is developing a neutral accent the same as “losing my accent”?

Not exactly. When people say they want to “lose their accent,” they usually just want to be understood more easily. It’s not about erasing your unique speech patterns—it’s about adjusting specific sounds that create barriers. Many of my clients keep subtle elements of their original accent (which adds character to their speech!) while adapting just the sounds that cause misunderstandings. The goal is clear communication that lets your ideas shine through, not complete accent elimination.

Will I lose my identity if I adopt a neutral accent?

Not at all. Many people maintain their own accent in some contexts while using a more neutral accent in others. Think of it as adding another communication tool rather than replacing your natural speech patterns.

Developing a Neutral Accent: Your Path Forward

Understanding what a neutral American accent is and how to develop one gives you valuable tools for more effective communication. Whether you’re from Boston, Bangladesh, or Birmingham, the ability to speak in ways that are widely understood opens doors both professionally and socially.

When you develop a more neutral accent, you’re not erasing your identity – you’re expanding your communication toolkit. The speech patterns common in places like Columbus, Ohio, or parts of Nebraska provide a useful model, but your goal should be clarity and connection, not perfect conformity. Funnily enough, even when you have a neutral accent like myself (I was born in Des Moines, Iowa!) and you travel other parts of the US, you’ll stumble across people who’ll stop you and go “WAIT, don’t tell me…. Iowa!”.

By practicing consistently and focusing on the specific sounds and patterns that characterize neutral American speech, you can develop the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in any context. Your accent is ultimately part of your personal brand if you will, and you should make it work for you, not against you. 

In our next article called How to Neutralize Your Accent, I have shared some practical tips on things you can do with different sounds to sound more like a Midwestern guy/gal. 

You can also download a quick PDF guide with actionable steps on how to get there, completely free of charge.

And if you’ve reached this far and you’re a go-getter who wants to know exactly how many sounds you need to work on, I’ll be happy to personally give you a free 30-min accent assessment. 

In as little as 12 weeks, you could be sounding a lot different with our accent reduction coaching services. 🙂 

Click here to schedule it today!