Is “Your English Is Great” a Microaggression?

“Your English is great.”

It’s often said with good intentions.
Sometimes even pride.
Rarely with the goal of offending.

But intention isn’t what defines a microaggression.

Impact is.

So is “your English is great” a microaggression?

For many bilingual and immigrant Americans, the answer is yes.

What Is a Language Microaggression?

A microaggression is a subtle comment or action that communicates a biased or stereotypical message — often without the speaker realizing it.

Language microaggressions focus on how someone speaks:

Their accent
Their grammar
Their fluency
Their perceived “foreignness”

They may sound harmless. But over time, they reinforce who is seen as belonging — and who is not.

Why “Your English Is Great” Can Be a Microaggression

The phrase becomes a microaggression because it carries an assumption.

It assumes:

English is not your first language
Fluency was unexpected
You are an exception

The compliment exists because the speaker did not expect you to speak English well.

That expectation — not the praise — is the issue.

Who Gets Praised for English (and Who Doesn’t)

One of the clearest ways to understand why this phrase is a microaggression is to notice patterns.

Native English speakers are not praised for their English.
Their fluency is assumed.
Their belonging is automatic.

Bilingual and immigrant speakers, however, are often singled out — even when English is their dominant or only language.

That difference creates a hierarchy.

And language becomes a way to enforce it.

Accent Bias and Language Discrimination

This phrase is closely tied to accent bias, a documented form of discrimination that affects:

Hiring decisions
Workplace promotions
Classroom treatment
Media representation

When someone says “your English is great,” it doesn’t challenge accent bias. It quietly confirms that certain ways of speaking are still being evaluated.

That’s why many people experience the phrase not as praise — but as judgment disguised as kindness.

When Compliments Reinforce Stereotypes

Microaggressions are powerful because they feel small.

But repeated over time, they send a clear message:

You are being monitored
Your speech is being measured
Your acceptance is conditional

For people navigating a bilingual identity, this leads to constant self-editing, code-switching, and pressure to sound “neutral.”

That’s not inclusion.
That’s survival.

Why Intention Doesn’t Cancel Impact

Many people respond defensively when this is pointed out.

“I meant it as a compliment.”
“I was just being nice.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it.”

But microaggressions aren’t about intent.
They’re about effect.

If a comment repeatedly makes people feel othered, evaluated, or surprised for existing — it’s worth examining.

Rethinking How We Talk About Language

If we want to reduce language microaggressions, we need to rethink what we praise — and why.

Fluency should not be exceptional.
Multilingualism should not require approval.
Belonging should not depend on how closely someone sounds like the dominant culture.

Because language should connect us — not rank us.

About the Author

José Martínez is a journalist and author who writes about language, identity, and belonging. He is the author of Your English Is Great, But…, a book exploring accent bias, bilingual identity, and the hidden meaning behind everyday compliments.

👉 Your English Is Great, But… is available now on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Your-English-Great-But-Languages/dp/B0FHBJKJ6R