The Battle of Grand Gulf was fought on April 29, 1863, during th: North American English is generally homogeneous compared to British English, but this has been disputed.[273] American accent variation is increasing at the regional level and decreasing at the very local level,[274] though most Americans still speak within a phonological continuum of similar accents,[275] known collectively as General American English (GA), with differences hardly noticed even among Americans themselves, including Midland and Western American English.[276][277][278] In most American and Canadian English dialects, rhoticity (or r-fulness) is dominant, with non-rhoticity (or r-dropping) being associated with lower prestige and social class, especially since the end of World War II. This contrasts with the situation in England, where non-rhoticity has become the standard.[279]