“Bachelor” and “Bachelors” are both correct, but they are used differently. Bachelor a person who has not married, or a degree earned after undergraduate study. Bachelors the plural form of “bachelor,” meaning two or more bachelors. It can also appear in phrases such as bachelor’s degrees, where the possessive form is used.
Are you confused about bachelor or bachelors?
Both bachelor and bachelors are correct English words, but they do not have the same use.
Bachelor is the singular form. It can refer to one unmarried man or one person who has completed a bachelor’s degree, depending on the context.
Bachelors is the plural form. It refers to two or more bachelors.
There is also another important form:
Bachelor’s with an apostrophe is commonly used when talking about a university degree, as in bachelor’s degree.
For example:
He is a bachelor. ✅
They are bachelors. ✅
She earned a bachelor’s degree. ✅
In this article, you will learn the difference between bachelor and bachelors, when to use bachelor’s, common mistakes, examples, and easy grammar rules.
Quick Answer: Bachelor or Bachelors?
Use bachelor when you are talking about one person.
Use bachelors when you are talking about more than one person.
| Form | Main Use | Example |
| Bachelor | One person | He is a bachelor. |
| Bachelors | More than one person | The bachelors attended the event. |
| Bachelor’s | Possessive/degree | She has a bachelor’s degree. |
| Bachelors’ | Possessive plural | The bachelors’ apartments were nearby. |
The most common confusion happens between bachelor and bachelor’s degree.
What Does Bachelor Mean?
Bachelor is a singular noun.
It traditionally means an unmarried man.
For example:
John is a bachelor.
The bachelor lives alone.
The word can also appear in education-related terms.
For example:
He is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree.
In this context, Bachelor is part of the formal name of an academic degree.
Bachelor as an Unmarried Man
The traditional meaning of bachelor is an unmarried man.
For example:
He remained a bachelor for many years.
The young bachelor moved to the city.
The plural form is:
bachelors
Several bachelors lived in the building.
However, the word can sound somewhat old-fashioned in some contexts when used simply to describe an unmarried man.
What Does Bachelors Mean?
Bachelors is the plural form of bachelor.
It means two or more bachelors.
For example:
Three bachelors rented the house.
The group included several bachelors.
The basic rule is simple:
One bachelor
Two or more bachelors
Singular and Plural Examples
| Singular | Plural |
| one bachelor | two bachelors |
| one young bachelor | several young bachelors |
| a bachelor | many bachelors |
| the bachelor | the bachelors |
Do not use bachelors when you are talking about only one person.
Incorrect:
He is a bachelors. ❌
Correct:
He is a bachelor. ✅
What Does Bachelor’s Mean?
Bachelor’s has an apostrophe before the s.
It is commonly used in the phrase:
bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate university degree.
For example:
She has a bachelor’s degree in English.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology.
I am working toward a bachelor’s degree.
Here, bachelor’s is the standard form in the common phrase bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor or Bachelor’s Degree?
This is one of the most common questions.
In general English, the usual phrase is:
bachelor’s degree ✅
Not:
bachelor degree ❌
For example:
She has a bachelor’s degree in history. ✅
The apostrophe is important because bachelor’s is a possessive form.
However, formal degree names are often written without an apostrophe.
For example:
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
These are formal degree titles.
Bachelor of Arts vs Bachelor’s Degree
Both forms can be correct, but they work differently.
Bachelor’s Degree
Use bachelor’s degree as a general description.
I have a bachelor’s degree.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Bachelor of Arts
Use Bachelor of Arts as the formal degree name.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Bachelor of Science
Similarly:
He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry.
So remember:
a bachelor’s degree → general description
Bachelor of Arts → formal degree title
Bachelor of Science → formal degree title
Is “Bachelors” Correct?
Yes, bachelors is a correct plural word.
But it should only be used when you mean more than one bachelor.
For example:
The bachelors met at the restaurant.
Here, bachelors is correct because there is more than one person.
However, if you are talking about a university degree, bachelors is usually not the form you want.
Incorrect:
She has a bachelors degree. ❌
Standard form:
She has a bachelor’s degree. ✅
The apostrophe changes the grammatical form.
Is “Bachelors Degree” Correct?
In standard English, the usual form is:
bachelor’s degree ✅
The apostrophe shows the possessive form.
For example:
He completed his bachelor’s degree.
Not:
He completed his bachelors degree. ❌
This is a common mistake because the pronunciation does not make the apostrophe obvious.
Bachelor vs Bachelors vs Bachelor’s
These three forms are easy to confuse.
Bachelor
Singular.
He is a bachelor.
Bachelors
Plural.
They are bachelors.
Bachelor’s
Possessive or used in the common phrase bachelor’s degree.
She has a bachelor’s degree.
Think of them this way:
Bachelor = one
Bachelors = more than one
Bachelor’s = belonging to one / degree
What About Bachelors’?
There is also a fourth form:
bachelors’
This form has an apostrophe after the s.
It is a plural possessive form.
Use it when something belongs to more than one bachelor.
For example:
The bachelors’ apartment was large.
This means the apartment belongs to the bachelors.
Another example:
The bachelors’ meeting lasted two hours.
The meeting involved or belonged to the group of bachelors.
Compare the Apostrophes
| Form | Meaning | Example |
| bachelor | One bachelor | He is a bachelor. |
| bachelors | More than one | They are bachelors. |
| bachelor’s | Belonging to one / degree | His bachelor’s degree |
| bachelors’ | Belonging to several | The bachelors’ homes |
Bachelor in Academic Writing
Bachelor appears frequently in education.
Examples include:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Engineering
- Bachelor of Education
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
These are degree titles.
For example:
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English.
He is studying for a Bachelor of Science.
When the complete formal degree name is used, the words are normally capitalized.
Bachelor’s Degree in Academic Writing
When you are not giving the formal degree title, use the lowercase phrase:
bachelor’s degree
Examples:
I have a bachelor’s degree in English.
She is completing her bachelor’s degree.
He wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
This distinction is useful in resumes, applications, articles, and academic writing.
Bachelor or Bachelors in a Resume
If you are writing a resume, you may use either a general phrase or the formal degree title.
For example:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration
or:
Bachelor of Business Administration
The exact format can depend on the institution and the style of the resume.
If you are writing the general degree type, bachelor’s degree is the standard phrase.
Common Mistakes With Bachelor and Bachelors
Mistake 1: Using Bachelors for One Person
Incorrect:
He is a bachelors. ❌
Correct:
He is a bachelor. ✅
Use the singular form for one person.
Mistake 2: Leaving Out the Apostrophe
Incorrect:
She has a bachelors degree. ❌
Correct:
She has a bachelor’s degree. ✅
The standard general phrase uses an apostrophe.
Mistake 3: Using Bachelor Degree
Incorrect:
He earned a bachelor degree. ❌
Correct:
He earned a bachelor’s degree. ✅
However, a formal title such as Bachelor of Arts does not use the apostrophe.
Mistake 4: Confusing Bachelors and Bachelor’s
These words have different meanings.
Bachelors = plural
Bachelor’s = possessive singular / commonly used in bachelor’s degree
For example:
The bachelors attended the event. ✅
She earned a bachelor’s degree. ✅
Bachelor or Bachelors: Easy Memory Trick
Here is an easy way to remember the difference:
Bachelor = one
Bachelors = many
Bachelor’s = degree
Think:
One bachelor, two bachelors, a bachelor’s degree.
This simple pattern can help you choose the correct form.
Bachelor vs Bachelors Examples
Bachelor
He is a bachelor.
The bachelor lives in New York.
A bachelor attended the meeting.
Bachelors
Several bachelors attended the event.
The bachelors rented apartments nearby.
The group included three bachelors.
Bachelor’s
She has a bachelor’s degree.
He completed his bachelor’s degree last year.
My bachelor’s degree is in English.
Bachelor or Bachelors in Everyday English
Here are some natural examples.
My brother is a bachelor.
Two bachelors moved into the apartment.
She earned a bachelor’s degree last year.
He is working toward a bachelor’s degree.
Several bachelors attended the wedding.
Each sentence uses a different grammatical form.
Bachelor or Bachelors in Formal Writing
In formal writing, use the form that matches the meaning.
For one unmarried man:
The bachelor lives in the apartment.
For several unmarried men:
The bachelors live in the apartment.
For an undergraduate degree:
She holds a bachelor’s degree in education.
For a formal degree title:
She holds a Bachelor of Education.
Using the correct form makes your writing clearer.
Bachelor vs Bachelors: Quick Comparison
| Word | Singular/Plural | Meaning | Example |
| Bachelor | Singular | One bachelor | He is a bachelor. |
| Bachelors | Plural | Two or more bachelors | They are bachelors. |
| Bachelor’s | Possessive singular | Belonging to one bachelor; common in degree phrase | Bachelor’s degree |
| Bachelors’ | Possessive plural | Belonging to several bachelors | Bachelors’ homes |
Does “Bachelor” Always Mean an Unmarried Man?
No.
The word has more than one use.
In everyday language, bachelor can mean an unmarried man.
In education, it appears in degree names such as:
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
The meaning depends on the context.
Is “Bachelors” Used for Degrees?
Usually, you should not write bachelors degree in standard English.
The normal general form is:
bachelor’s degree
For example:
She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. ✅
If you are using the formal degree name, write:
Bachelor of Marketing
if that is the official title used by the institution.
Always check the official degree title when writing formal academic information.
Quick Quiz: Bachelor or Bachelors?
Choose the correct form.
1. He is a ______.
Answer: bachelor
2. Three ______ attended the party.
Answer: bachelors
3. She has a ______ degree.
Answer: bachelor’s
4. He earned a Bachelor of ______.
Answer: Arts/Science/etc.
5. The ______ live in the same building.
Answer: bachelors
6. I completed my ______ degree last year.
Answer: bachelor’s
7. One unmarried man can be called a ______.
Answer: bachelor
8. More than one bachelor are called ______.
Answer: bachelors
Fill in the Blanks
Choose bachelor, bachelors, or bachelor’s.
- He is a ______.
- She earned a ______ degree in English.
- Several ______ attended the event.
- My ______ degree is in business.
- The young ______ lives alone.
- Two ______ rented the apartment.
- He completed his ______ degree last year.
- The group included four ______.
- She wants to earn a ______ degree.
- He is still a ______.
Answers
- bachelor
- bachelor’s
- bachelors
- bachelor’s
- bachelor
- bachelors
- bachelor’s
- bachelors
- bachelor’s
- bachelor
FAQs
Is it bachelor or bachelors?
Use bachelor for one person and bachelors for two or more people.
Is it bachelor or bachelor’s degree?
The standard phrase is bachelor’s degree.
She has a bachelor’s degree. ✅
Is “bachelors degree” correct?
In standard English, the usual form is bachelor’s degree, with an apostrophe.
What is the plural of bachelor?
The plural of bachelor is bachelors.
What is the difference between bachelor and bachelor’s?
Bachelor is the singular noun. Bachelor’s is the possessive form and is commonly used in the phrase bachelor’s degree.
What is the difference between bachelors and bachelor’s?
Bachelors means more than one bachelor. Bachelor’s is singular possessive and is commonly used when talking about a bachelor’s degree.
Is Bachelor of Arts written with an apostrophe?
No. The formal degree title is generally written Bachelor of Arts, not Bachelor’s of Arts.
Is Bachelor of Science correct?
Yes. Bachelor of Science is a standard formal degree title.
Should I write bachelor degree or bachelor’s degree?
Use bachelor’s degree when you are describing the degree generally.
Final Verdict: Bachelor or Bachelors?
The difference between bachelor and bachelors is mainly about number.
Use bachelor for one person.
Use bachelor’s degree when talking about the undergraduate degree in general.
The easiest rule is:
Bachelor = one
Bachelors = more than one
Bachelor’s = commonly used with degree
Once you remember this pattern, choosing the right form becomes much easier.
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