Masters or Master’s: Meaning, Differences & Grammar Rules

Masters or Master’s can confuse English learners because the two forms have different meanings, grammatical purposes, and uses in academic writing and professional communication.

In standard American English, master’s degree is the conventional form for a graduate qualification in higher education. The apostrophe marks the possessive form, while masters is a plural noun for skilled people, experts, or teachers. This punctuation mark creates a noticeable difference in meaning, spelling, and correct usage. Understanding these grammar rules helps students and writers improve their writing skills, clarity, and word choice.

When writing about a graduate degree, use master’s degree, not masters degree. For example, “She earned a master’s degree in English” is the correct form. Master of Arts and Master of Science are formal degree titles that describe an academic qualification and support a person’s academic credentials. Correct spelling matters in college applications, academic assignments, professional emails, a résumé, application documents, and other professional documents. Checking apostrophe placement helps avoid common mistakes and keeps sentence structure accurate. Real-life examples show how context helps you choose the right word forms.

Quick Answer: Masters or Master’s?

Use master’s when referring to a graduate degree, and use masters when referring to more than one master. The correct choice depends on the meaning of your sentence.

Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
Master’s degree	A postgraduate academic qualification	She earned a master’s degree in education.
Master’s	A shortened reference to a master’s degree	He is pursuing his master’s in biology.
Masters	The plural of master	The chess masters competed internationally.
Master of Arts	The formal name of an academic degree	She earned a Master of Arts in English.
Masters’	The possessive form of the plural noun masters	The masters’ workshop attracted many apprentices.

In ordinary academic writing, master’s degree is the safest standard choice when you mean the qualification. Writing masters degree without an apostrophe is generally considered incorrect in edited American English.

The distinction becomes clearer when you look at how each form works in a sentence.

Correct: I plan to earn a master’s degree in psychology.
Incorrect in standard usage: I plan to earn a masters degree in psychology.
Correct: The masters shared their knowledge with younger artists.

The apostrophe isn’t decorative. It helps distinguish the academic expression from the plural noun.

Table of Contents

What Does Master’s Mean?

The word master’s commonly appears in the phrase master’s degree. It identifies a type of graduate qualification that students typically pursue after completing a bachelor’s degree.

For example, someone who completes an undergraduate degree in business might continue studying for a master’s degree in business administration. Another student might earn a master’s degree in education, engineering, or public health.

The apostrophe appears before the s because the expression follows the traditional possessive form associated with a master. In modern academic writing, however, you don’t need to explain literal ownership. The phrase functions as an established name for a level of education.

Master’s as a Possessive Form

In English, a singular noun usually forms its possessive by adding an apostrophe and s. Consider these examples:

The student’s notebook
The teacher’s desk
The artist’s studio
The master’s degree

In each phrase, the apostrophe marks a grammatical relationship. The final example follows the same general pattern, although master’s degree is now a conventional academic expression.

This rule also explains why master’s differs from masters. The first form has an apostrophe indicating the possessive construction. The second is an ordinary plural noun.

Compare these sentences:

Master’s: She completed her master’s last spring.
Masters: Several masters demonstrated traditional painting techniques.

In the first sentence, master’s stands in for master’s degree. In the second, masters refers to multiple people with considerable skill or expertise.

Master’s Degree in Academic Writing

A master’s degree is a postgraduate academic qualification that generally follows a bachelor’s degree. Universities offer these programs in many fields, including science, literature, business, technology, and the arts.

The phrase appears frequently in academic and professional communication. You might use it when describing your education, discussing admission requirements, or explaining your career plans.

Here are some natural examples:

She is pursuing a master’s degree in public health.
My brother earned a master’s degree in computer science.
The university offers a master’s degree in education.
He hopes to complete his master’s degree next year.

Notice that master’s degree remains lowercase in these ordinary sentences. You don’t need capital letters simply because the qualification is important.

For guidance on academic capitalization, the University of Hartford’s editorial style guide explains the distinction between general degree references and formal degree names.

Correct Examples of Master’s

The following sentences show how to use master’s naturally in different contexts.

In an academic application:

I intend to pursue a master’s degree in environmental science.

In a professional biography:

Jordan holds a master’s degree in business administration and works in project management.

In a conversation about education:

Are you planning to complete your master’s after graduation?

In an academic assignment:

A master’s degree can provide advanced study in a specialized subject.

Each example uses the apostrophe correctly because the writer refers to a graduate qualification.

One useful detail: when you write master’s without the word degree, readers can often understand the intended meaning from context. For instance, She is working on her master’s is a natural shortened expression.

What Does Masters Mean?

Masters is the plural form of master. It refers to two or more people who hold a particular position, possess advanced skills, or have considerable knowledge of a subject.

Unlike master’s, the word masters doesn’t need an apostrophe when it simply refers to multiple people. Adding an apostrophe without a possessive meaning would be incorrect.

For example, you might describe several experienced musicians as masters of their craft. You could also refer to chess masters who compete in international tournaments.

The exact meaning depends on the surrounding words.

Masters as the Plural of Master

The noun master has several meanings in English. It can describe a highly skilled person, someone who has authority, or a person recognized for expertise in a particular field.

When you refer to more than one such person, you generally add s to form masters.

Consider these examples:

The masters of traditional pottery taught the next generation.
Several chess masters entered the competition.
The young musicians studied recordings by the old masters.
These artists are masters of color and composition.

In each sentence, masters refers to multiple people. No apostrophe is needed because the word isn’t showing possession.

This distinction matters in everyday writing. If you describe a group of skilled professionals as masters, you’re using a regular plural noun. If you describe someone’s academic qualification, you generally need master’s degree instead.

Masters in Academic and Professional Contexts

The word masters can appear in discussions about education, but it doesn’t automatically refer to a graduate degree.

For example, someone might write about masters in their respective fields. In that sentence, the noun refers to experts rather than academic qualifications.

Academic writing also uses formal degree titles, such as Master of Arts and Master of Science. These titles follow a different grammatical pattern from master’s degree.

Compare the following examples:

Generic reference: She earned a master’s degree in chemistry.
Formal degree title: She earned a Master of Science in Chemistry.
Plural noun: The masters shared their research techniques.

The formal title names a particular type of qualification. The generic expression describes the qualification without necessarily stating its full official name.

If you’re writing about your own education, check the name printed on your diploma or listed by your university. That detail matters more than guessing which form looks right.

Correct Examples of Masters

Here are several examples showing the plural noun in context.

In art:

The masters of Renaissance painting continue to influence modern artists.

In sports or games:

Several chess masters participated in the championship.

In a professional setting:

The masters of negotiation shared practical advice with the team.

In a discussion of craftsmanship:

These furniture makers are masters of their craft.

Each example uses masters correctly because the sentence refers to multiple people. None describes a graduate qualification.

Masters vs. Master’s: Key Differences

The main difference between masters and master’s is grammatical, not merely visual. The apostrophe changes how readers interpret the word.

Master’s commonly appears in a possessive construction associated with a graduate degree. Masters usually functions as the plural of master. Meanwhile, Master of Arts and Master of Science are formal academic titles.

The following table summarizes these differences.

Feature	Master’s	Masters	Master of Arts
Grammatical form	Possessive construction	Plural noun	Formal degree title
Common meaning	Graduate qualification	Multiple masters	Specific academic qualification
Apostrophe	Yes	No	No
Example	A master’s degree in history	Several chess masters	A Master of Arts in history
Common context	Education and careers	Expertise and people	Official degree names

The most common mistake is writing masters degree when referring to a postgraduate qualification. In standard American English, the conventional spelling is master’s degree.

Why the Apostrophe Matters

Imagine reading these two sentences:

She earned a master’s degree in English.
The masters gathered to discuss their work.

The first sentence concerns education. The second describes people with expertise.

Removing the apostrophe from the first sentence changes the standard spelling. Adding an apostrophe to the second sentence would suggest possession, which the sentence doesn’t express.

This small punctuation mark helps readers understand the intended meaning without needing extra explanation.

Masters Degree vs. Master’s Degree: Correct and Incorrect Usage

Sentence	Correct?	Explanation
She earned a master’s degree.	Yes	Standard spelling for the qualification.
She earned a masters degree.	No, in standard edited American English	The apostrophe is missing.
The masters attended the conference.	Yes	Masters is a plural noun.
He completed two master’s degrees.	Yes	Master’s remains unchanged while degrees becomes plural.
She earned a Master of Science.	Yes	This is a formal degree title.
She earned two masters’ degrees.	Generally no for this meaning	The conventional expression is two master’s degrees.

Remember that a sentence can contain the word masters correctly without referring to education. The key is to identify the meaning before choosing the spelling.

Is It Master’s Degree or Masters Degree?

If you’re referring to a graduate qualification, master’s degree is the standard spelling in American English.

The apostrophe belongs between the r and the final s. This is the same pattern found in bachelor’s degree.

You might see masters degree on informal websites, handwritten notes, or unedited documents. However, common usage doesn’t automatically make a spelling standard.

For academic assignments, professional correspondence, and application documents, use master’s degree unless you’re reproducing an official title that uses different wording.

Why Master’s Degree Is Correct

The expression master’s degree follows an established possessive construction. It names a recognized level of higher education.

A student might earn a master’s degree in mathematics, psychology, engineering, or another subject. The field changes, but the spelling of master’s degree stays the same.

Examples include:

She plans to earn a master’s degree in psychology.
He completed a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
They are discussing the cost of a master’s degree.
My cousin is applying for a master’s degree program.

The last example uses master’s to describe the type of degree program. The apostrophe remains necessary.

According to Grammarly’s explanation of master’s degree, the apostrophe distinguishes the standard academic expression from the plural masters.

Is Masters Degree Ever Acceptable?

In ordinary American English, masters degree is generally treated as a spelling or punctuation error when it refers to a graduate qualification.

However, it’s important to distinguish a generic phrase from an official name. Universities sometimes use distinctive wording in program titles, publications, or branding. When quoting an official title, reproduce the institution’s exact wording rather than silently changing it.

Outside that narrow situation, the conventional forms are straightforward:

A master’s degree — correct.
A master’s in education — correct.
A Master of Education — correct when that is the formal degree title.
A masters degree — generally incorrect for the intended meaning.

Don’t confuse an informal omission with a recommended spelling. If you’re preparing something for a teacher, admissions office, or employer, the standard form is the better choice.

Master’s Degree in a Sentence

Seeing the expression in realistic situations can make the rule easier to remember.

College application:

I hope to pursue a master’s degree in public administration.

Cover letter:

My master’s degree in information technology strengthened my understanding of software development.

Professional biography:

Maria holds a master’s degree in economics and specializes in market research.

Email to an academic adviser:

Could you explain the admission requirements for the master’s degree program?

Conversation about future plans:

After completing my bachelor’s degree, I plan to pursue a master’s.

All five examples use the correct form. In the final example, the word degree is omitted because the meaning remains clear.

Is It Master’s or Masters on a Résumé?

Your résumé should communicate your qualifications accurately and professionally. The best wording depends on whether you’re describing a degree generally or listing its official name.

If you’ve earned a graduate qualification, you can use master’s degree in a sentence describing your background. In an education section, you may prefer the formal degree title.

Writing Your Degree on a Résumé

When describing your qualification in a sentence, lowercase master’s degree is a standard choice.

For example:

Earned a master’s degree in finance.
Holds a master’s degree in computer science.
Completed a master’s degree in education.

However, an education section often works better with the official title and institution.

For example:

Education

Master of Science in Computer Science — Example University
Master of Business Administration — Example University
Master of Arts in English — Example University

These examples illustrate formatting only. Use the actual title awarded by your institution, and never list a qualification you haven’t earned.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health editorial style guide distinguishes generic master’s degree references from formal degree names.

Writing an In-Progress Degree

If you’re still studying, your résumé should make that status clear. Don’t imply that you’ve graduated before completing the requirements.

You could write:

Master of Science in Biology, expected May 2027
Master’s degree in education, in progress
Candidate for a Master of Arts in English

Choose wording that accurately reflects your institution’s terminology and your actual enrollment status.

Also, don’t use masters simply because you’re describing a degree that’s still underway. The academic expression remains master’s degree whether you’ve finished the program or not.

Should Master’s Be Capitalized?

Capitalization depends on whether you’re using a general description or naming a specific degree.

In ordinary American English prose, writers generally use lowercase for generic references such as master’s degree. Formal degree titles, including Master of Arts and Master of Science, capitalize the principal words.

Some institutions and publications follow their own editorial rules. When a university, employer, or publication provides a style guide, follow it consistently.

When to Use Lowercase Master’s

Use lowercase when you’re referring to a degree in a general sense.

Examples:

She earned a master’s degree in history.
He hopes to complete his master’s next year.
A master’s degree may support further specialization.
The university offers several master’s programs.

These expressions describe a type of qualification rather than reproducing its full official name.

Lowercase also works when the degree appears in the middle of an ordinary sentence. There’s no need to capitalize master’s simply because the sentence discusses higher education.

When to Capitalize Master’s Degree Titles

Capitalize the formal name when you write the official degree title.

Examples:

Master of Arts
Master of Science
Master of Business Administration
Master of Fine Arts

Compare these sentences:

General description	Formal degree title
She earned a master’s degree in biology.	She earned a Master of Science in Biology.
He completed a master’s degree in literature.	He completed a Master of Arts in Literature.
She wants to pursue a master’s in business.	She wants to pursue a Master of Business Administration.

The exact capitalization of the subject may vary by institutional style. In particular, a university may capitalize the field when it’s part of an official program title.

For consistency, check the degree’s official name and follow the style guide used for your document. The University of Illinois Chicago’s style guide provides examples of lowercase generic references and capitalized formal degree names.

Master’s, Masters, or Masters’?

Three similar spellings often cause confusion: master’s, masters, and masters’. Each form serves a different grammatical purpose, so understanding the apostrophe’s position is essential.

The easiest way to remember the difference is to identify whether you’re discussing a degree, multiple people, or something belonging to multiple people.

Form	Grammatical purpose	Example
Master’s	Possessive construction used in the degree expression	She earned a master’s degree.
Masters	Plural of master	The masters shared their knowledge.
Masters’	Possessive form of the plural masters	The masters’ tools were stored safely.

When to Use Master’s

Use master’s when referring to a graduate qualification or using the shortened expression master’s degree.

Examples:

He earned a master’s degree in mathematics.
She is completing her master’s this semester.
My master’s thesis focuses on renewable energy.

In each example, the apostrophe appears before the s.

When to Use Masters

Use masters when referring to multiple people described as masters.

Examples:

The chess masters competed for the championship.
Several musical masters influenced his playing style.
The masters of the craft trained new apprentices.

Here, the word is plural rather than possessive. Therefore, it doesn’t require an apostrophe.

When to Use Masters’

Use masters’ when something belongs to or is associated with multiple masters.

Examples:

The masters’ workshop displayed traditional tools.
The masters’ decisions shaped the final project.
The masters’ assistants organized the event.

The apostrophe comes after the s because the noun is plural.

However, don’t use masters’ degree as the ordinary spelling for a graduate qualification. Even when someone earns multiple graduate degrees, the standard form is master’s degrees.

The master’s part stays unchanged while the noun degree becomes plural. The Chicago Manual of Style’s guidance on possessives and attributives confirms this convention.

Common Mistakes When Using Masters and Master’s

Most errors happen when writers focus on the spelling rather than the intended meaning. A quick grammatical check can prevent these mistakes.

Writing Masters Degree

This is one of the most common errors in academic writing.

Incorrect: She wants to earn a masters degree in accounting.

Correct: She wants to earn a master’s degree in accounting.

The corrected version includes the apostrophe required by the conventional expression.

Confusing a Degree With Multiple Masters

The plural noun masters doesn’t automatically describe graduate qualifications.

Incorrect for the intended meaning: He earned two masters.

Clearer: He earned two master’s degrees.

The shorter expression two master’s may also work when the context makes the meaning clear. However, two master’s degrees is more explicit and usually better for formal writing.

Incorrect Capitalization

Some writers capitalize every word associated with a qualification. Others lowercase formal degree titles that should retain their official capitalization.

Compare these examples:

General reference: She earned a master’s degree in history.
Formal title: She earned a Master of Arts in History.

The distinction is between a generic description and the official name of a degree. Follow your institution’s preferred style when capitalization rules differ.

Adding an Apostrophe to Every Plural

An apostrophe doesn’t make an ordinary plural. It usually indicates possession or appears in a contraction.

Consider these examples:

Two masters attended the event.
The masters’ equipment was expensive.
She earned a master’s degree.

The first sentence uses a plural noun. The second indicates possession by multiple people. The third uses the conventional academic expression.

Once you identify the grammatical function, the correct spelling becomes much easier to choose.

How to Remember the Difference Between Masters and Master’s

You don’t need to memorize a long list of exceptions. A simple meaning-based rule will help you choose the correct form in most situations.

Use master’s degree for the qualification and masters for multiple masters. Add the final apostrophe in masters’ only when the plural noun expresses possession.

Try this quick memory guide:

Degree? Write master’s degree.
Multiple experts? Write masters.
Something belonging to multiple masters? Write masters’.
Official degree title? Write Master of Arts or Master of Science, as appropriate.

For example, if you’re writing about graduate school, ask yourself whether the sentence refers to a qualification. If it does, master’s will usually be the correct choice.

If you’re describing several expert musicians, chess players, or skilled craftspeople, masters is likely correct.

Practice Examples: Masters or Master’s?

Test your understanding with these examples before checking the answers.

Sentence	Correct form
She plans to earn a ___ degree in nursing.	Master’s
The chess ___ gathered for the tournament.	Masters
He completed two ___ degrees.	Master’s
The ___ workshop displayed several antique instruments.	Masters’
She earned a ___ of Science in Chemistry.	Master

The completed sentences are:

She plans to earn a master’s degree in nursing.
The chess masters gathered for the tournament.
He completed two master’s degrees.
The masters’ workshop displayed several antique instruments.
She earned a Master of Science in Chemistry.

These examples cover the most common situations you’ll encounter in academic and professional writing.

FAQs:

Is It Masters or Master’s Degree?

Master’s degree is the standard spelling in American English when referring to a graduate qualification. The apostrophe belongs before the s. The form masters degree is generally considered incorrect in edited writing.

Is a Master’s Degree Correct Grammatically?

Yes. Master’s degree is a standard, grammatically accepted expression for a postgraduate academic qualification. You can use it in essays, professional biographies, applications, and everyday conversations.

For example: She earned a master’s degree in economics.

Do You Write Master’s or Masters on a CV?

Use master’s degree when describing your qualification in a sentence. When listing your education, you can use the formal degree title, such as Master of Science or Master of Business Administration.

Always check the official title awarded by your institution.

Is It Master’s Degree or Masters Degree in American English?

In standard American English, master’s degree is the conventional form. The apostrophe is part of the established spelling, even though some informal writing omits it.

For academic assignments and professional documents, use master’s degree.

Should Master’s Degree Be Capitalized?

Generally, lowercase the phrase when referring to a degree in a broad sense. For example, write She earned a master’s degree in chemistry.

Capitalize formal degree titles, such as Master of Science and Master of Arts. Institutional style guides may provide additional rules for specific contexts.

What Is the Difference Between Master’s, Masters, and Masters’?

Master’s is the conventional form used in master’s degree. Masters is the plural of master, while masters’ is the possessive form of that plural noun.

For example, a master’s degree, several masters, and the masters’ workshop illustrate the three forms.

Conclusion:

Understanding Masters or Master’s helps you avoid spelling and grammar mistakes in academic and professional writing. Use master’s degree when referring to a graduate qualification, and use masters when referring to more than one master. Remember that the apostrophe changes the word’s meaning and grammatical purpose. Correct usage makes your college applications, résumés, academic assignments, and professional emails clearer and more accurate.