When working to improve your accent and pronunciation, finding the right point to put stress on words is one of the most useful things you can learn. Understanding how stress works in the English language can help you understand native speakers much easier as well as improve your overall ability to express yourself.
The Basic Rule
In a single word, there can be several points of stress. This is especially true for words that are a combination of two or more words (e.g. outstanding, homemaker). However, only one of these will feature the main stress, with the others playing as secondary stress, usually marked by a shorter length.
When practicing where to put stress in words, remember that in English, stress is usually placed on syllables that include a vowel. It’s the sound of that vowel, in fact, that gives the stress its power.
Stress By Pitch
When you listen to native speakers (or to the audio component of your language learning software), try to note how the pitch changes when they pronounce words. The point where the pitch is raised is the location of the stress – learn it and practice it with the same pitch to improve your own speaking.
Stress By Length
Similarly, the length by which a syllable is uttered is also an indication of stress. The point of stress is typically uttered longer, along with the higher pitch.