stress mark: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “stress mark” mean?
A written or printed symbol (like ˈ or ˌ) used in phonetic transcription to indicate which syllable in a word or phrase receives the greatest emphasis or prominence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A written or printed symbol (like ˈ or ˌ) used in phonetic transcription to indicate which syllable in a word or phrase receives the greatest emphasis or prominence.
A diacritical mark used in dictionaries and linguistic texts to denote primary (ˈ) or secondary (ˌ) lexical stress; more broadly, any notation that highlights emphasis in spoken language.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or use. The IPA symbols are universal. The term itself might be slightly more common in UK pedagogical materials.
Connotations
Neutral, technical term.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; high frequency in specific academic/linguistic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “stress mark” in a Sentence
The stress mark [precedes/falls before] the stressed syllable.A stress mark is [placed/used/added] to indicate prominence.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stress mark” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The editor will stress-mark all the new entries before publication.
American English
- The transcription software can automatically stress-mark the text.
adjective
British English
- The stress-mark placement follows strict IPA conventions.
American English
- We need a stress-mark key for this pronunciation guide.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in presentation training materials discussing vocal delivery.
Academic
Core term in linguistics, language studies, and dictionary compilation.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Essential term in phonetics, speech therapy, dictionary editing software, and textbook design.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stress mark”
- Pronouncing 'stress mark' with the stress on the second word (stress MARK*). Correct stress is 'STRESS mark'.
- Using the term interchangeably with 'accent mark' (which can refer to symbols like é, è, ñ).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Stress mark' specifically indicates syllable prominence (loudness, pitch, length). 'Accent mark' is a broader term that can include stress marks but more commonly refers to diacritics that modify vowel quality (like é, è, ñ) in languages like Spanish or French.
In IPA transcription, the stress mark (ˈ or ˌ) is placed immediately BEFORE the syllable that receives the stress. For example, /ˈfəʊ.tə.ɡrɑːf/.
Most modern learner's dictionaries and linguistic dictionaries do, using IPA symbols. Some older or simplified dictionaries may use other systems, like bold type or an apostrophe-like symbol before the stressed syllable.
Correct word stress is crucial for intelligibility in English. Misplaced stress can make a word sound very unnatural or even change its perceived meaning (e.g., 'CONtent' vs. 'conTENT'). Stress marks provide a clear, visual guide to correct pronunciation.
A written or printed symbol (like ˈ or ˌ) used in phonetic transcription to indicate which syllable in a word or phrase receives the greatest emphasis or prominence.
Stress mark is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Stress mark: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstres ˌmɑːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstres ˌmɑːrk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MARK that STRESSes a syllable, like a highlighter pen for your voice.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRESS IS VISUAL EMPHASIS (The abstract vocal emphasis is made concrete through a visible mark).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a stress mark?