“Masters” and “Master’s” are both correct, but they have different uses. Masters = the plural of master, or the name of a degree when used without a possessive apostrophe in some contexts. Master’s = the possessive form, commonly used for a Master’s degree.
The words masters and master’s look almost the same, but they do not have the same meaning.
If you are talking about a graduate academic degree, the usual correct form is master’s.
For example:
She earned a master’s degree in English.
He is studying for a master’s in business.
The apostrophe is important because master’s is a possessive form.
However, masters without an apostrophe is also a real English word. It can be the plural of master, the third-person singular form of the verb master, or part of a proper name such as a competition.
So the correct choice depends on what you mean.
Quick Answer: Masters or Master’s?
Use master’s when you mean a graduate academic degree.
Use masters when you mean more than one master or when the word is being used as a verb.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
| master’s | A graduate degree | She earned a master’s degree. |
| masters | More than one master | The masters shared their knowledge. |
| masters | Verb meaning becomes skilled at | He masters new skills quickly. |
| masters’ | Possessive form of plural masters | The masters’ opinions differed. |
| Master of Arts | Formal degree title | She earned a Master of Arts. |
For most people searching masters or master’s, the key rule is simple:
Academic degree → master’s
What Does Master’s Mean?
Master’s is commonly used as the shortened form of master’s degree.
A master’s degree is a postgraduate academic qualification. It is generally completed after a bachelor’s degree.
Examples include:
- master’s degree in English
- master’s degree in education
- master’s degree in computer science
- master’s degree in business
- master’s degree in psychology
You can also use master’s without saying the word degree when the meaning is already clear.
For example:
I have a master’s in education.
She is working toward her master’s.
He completed his master’s last year.
The apostrophe remains important in these shortened forms.
Why Does Master’s Have an Apostrophe?
The apostrophe in master’s marks a possessive form.
The traditional structure is understood as a degree associated with a master.
That is why standard English uses:
master’s degree
rather than:
❌ masters degree
Current grammar guidance consistently recommends the apostrophe in the general phrase master’s degree.
Think of it this way:
master + ‘s + degree
→ master’s degree
The apostrophe is not there to make the word plural.
It shows the possessive form.
Is Masters a Real Word?
Yes.
Masters is a real English word. The problem is that it has a different job from master’s.
For example:
The two masters worked together.
Here, masters means more than one master.
It can also be a verb:
She masters new skills quickly.
Here, masters means becomes highly skilled at something.
So it would be incorrect to say that masters is always wrong.
The important question is:
What do you mean?
If you mean a graduate degree, write master’s.
Master’s Degree vs Masters Degree
This is the most common confusion.
Correct
I earned a master’s degree in history.
Incorrect in standard general usage
I earned a masters degree in history.
The missing apostrophe changes the grammatical form.
The same pattern appears in:
She is applying for a master’s degree.
He completed a master’s program.
She wrote her master’s thesis.
I have a master’s in biology.
In all of these examples, master’s is the appropriate form.
Master’s or Master of Arts?
There is an important difference between a general degree reference and a formal degree title.
Use master’s when talking about the degree generally:
She earned a master’s degree in English.
Use the formal title when naming the specific qualification:
She earned a Master of Arts in English.
Other formal titles include:
- Master of Arts
- Master of Science
- Master of Education
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Public Health
Notice that these formal titles do not use an apostrophe in Master of Arts or Master of Science. Current style guidance also distinguishes the general term master’s degree from specific titles such as Master of Arts.
Compare:
I have a master’s degree in chemistry.
I have a Master of Science in chemistry.
Both can be correct because they serve different purposes.
What About Master’s Program?
Use the apostrophe in the general phrase master’s program.
Examples:
She enrolled in a master’s program.
He is looking for a master’s program in finance.
The university offers several master’s programs.
The plural goes on programs, not on master’s.
So:
✅ master’s programs
❌ masters programs
The same pattern works with other academic phrases:
- master’s student
- master’s thesis
- master’s research
- master’s course
- master’s application
- master’s candidate
- master’s program
Master’s or Masters on a Resume?
When describing a graduate degree on a resume or CV, use master’s when you are using the general degree term.
For example:
Master’s Degree in Marketing
Or:
Master’s in Computer Science
You can also list the formal qualification:
Master of Science in Computer Science
If you use an abbreviation, you may see forms such as:
- MA
- M.A.
- MS
- M.S.
- MBA
- MEd
The exact punctuation of abbreviations can depend on the style guide or institution, so follow the style used throughout your resume.
The important point is that masters degree without the apostrophe is not the standard general spelling.
When Is Masters Correct?
There are several situations where masters is correct.
1. More Than One Master
Masters can be the plural of master.
The museum displayed works by several old masters.
Here, masters means multiple masters.
2. As a Verb
Masters can also be the third-person singular form of master.
She masters difficult skills quickly.
He masters every new software tool.
Here, masters means learns or becomes highly skilled at something.
3. A Competition or Event Name
Masters can also appear in official names and titles.
For example, The Masters is the name of a major golf tournament.
In that context, Masters is part of the proper name.
So you should not automatically replace every occurrence of masters with master’s.
Master’s vs Masters: A Simple Comparison
| Sentence | Correct? | Why? |
| She earned a master’s degree. | ✅ | Graduate degree |
| He has a master’s in history. | ✅ | Short form of master’s degree |
| She joined a master’s program. | ✅ | Academic program |
| He completed his master’s thesis. | ✅ | Thesis for a master’s degree |
| Several masters attended. | ✅ | More than one master |
| She masters the subject quickly. | ✅ | Verb |
| He earned a masters degree. | ❌ | Missing apostrophe |
| She is in a masters program. | ❌ | Standard form is master’s program |
What Is the Difference Between Master’s and Masters’?
There is another form that sometimes causes confusion:
master’s
masters’
They are not the same.
Master’s
This is the singular possessive form.
The master’s degree was awarded in June.
Masters’
This is the plural possessive form.
The masters’ opinions were different.
The apostrophe comes after the s in masters’ because the word refers to more than one master.
But masters’ degree is not the normal form for a graduate qualification.
Write:
✅ master’s degree
Not:
❌ masters’ degree
Is It Master’s Degree or Master Degree?
In standard general English, the common form is:
master’s degree
For example:
She earned a master’s degree in education.
You may sometimes see master degree in institutional or regional usage. Some style systems and organizations use different conventions for degree terminology, so official university wording should be followed when reproducing a formal program name. For ordinary English writing, however, master’s degree is the familiar standard form in American and British-oriented educational writing.
When naming a specific qualification, use the official title:
Master of Science
Master of Arts
Should Master’s Degree Be Capitalized?
Usually, master’s degree is lowercase when you are using it as a general term.
For example:
She earned a master’s degree in biology.
Not:
She earned a Master’s Degree in biology.
However, specific formal degree names are capitalized:
Master of Arts
Master of Science
This distinction is important in academic writing and professional documents.
Master’s or Masters in a Sentence
Here are some simple examples.
Academic Writing
She is completing a master’s degree in psychology.
Resume
Master’s in Business Administration.
University Application
I plan to pursue a master’s degree in computer science.
Everyday Conversation
I’m doing my master’s next year.
Multiple Experts
Several masters of the craft attended the event.
Verb
She masters difficult concepts quickly.
Notice how the meaning changes depending on the word.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Masters Degree
❌ I have a masters degree.
✅ I have a master’s degree.
Mistake 2: Masters Program
❌ He joined a masters program.
✅ He joined a master’s program.
Mistake 3: Masters Thesis
❌ She submitted her masters thesis.
✅ She submitted her master’s thesis.
Mistake 4: Masters’ Degree
❌ He earned a masters’ degree.
✅ He earned a master’s degree.
Mistake 5: Wrong Formal Title
❌ Master’s of Science
✅ Master of Science
The formal title uses Master of Science, not Master’s of Science.
A Fast Memory Trick
Use this simple rule:
Degree = Master’s
If you are talking about your graduate qualification, think:
master’s degree
More Than One Master = Masters
If you mean several people who are masters:
masters
Formal Degree Name = Master of…
If you are giving the exact degree title:
Master of Arts
Master of Science
This three-part rule makes the difference much easier to remember.
Master’s Degree: Singular or Plural?
One person can have:
a master’s degree
More than one person can have:
master’s degrees
Notice what becomes plural:
degree → degrees
The word master’s does not become masters.
For example:
Three students earned master’s degrees.
Not:
Three students earned masters degrees.
Current grammar guidance specifically recommends master’s degrees for more than one degree.
Can You Say “I Have a Master’s”?
Yes.
In informal or conversational English, master’s can stand alone when everyone understands that you mean a master’s degree.
For example:
I have a master’s.
She is working on her master’s.
He finished his master’s last year.
The apostrophe remains because the shortened form still refers to the degree.
Masters or Master’s: Quick Test
Choose the correct form.
- She earned a ___ degree in English.
Answer: master’s - He is studying for his ___.
Answer: master’s - Several ___ worked on the project.
Answer: masters - She ___ new skills quickly.
Answer: masters - He completed a ___ program in finance.
Answer: master’s - They earned master’s ___.
Answer: degrees - She earned a ___ of Science.
Answer: Master - He wrote his ___ thesis.
Answer: master’s
FAQs About Masters or Master’s
Is it masters or master’s degree?
The standard general form is master’s degree with an apostrophe.
Is “masters degree” wrong?
In standard general English, masters degree without the apostrophe is not the usual correct form. Use master’s degree.
Is master’s a word?
Yes. Master’s is a possessive form and is also commonly used as a shortened form of master’s degree.
Is masters a word?
Yes. Masters can be the plural of master or the third-person singular form of the verb master. It can also appear in proper names.
Is it master’s or masters program?
Use master’s program when referring generally to a graduate academic program.
Is it master’s or masters thesis?
The standard form is master’s thesis.
Do you capitalize master’s degree?
Usually no. Write master’s degree when referring to the qualification generally.
Is it Master’s of Science or Master of Science?
The formal degree title is Master of Science, without the possessive apostrophe.
Is “master’s” singular or plural?
Master’s is a singular possessive form. In the phrase master’s degree, it refers to a degree associated with a master.
What is the plural of master’s degree?
The plural is master’s degrees.
Can I write “I have a master’s”?
Yes. This is a common shortened form of I have a master’s degree.
Final Answer: Masters or Master’s?
Both masters and master’s are correct words, but they have different uses.
If you are talking about a graduate academic qualification, use:
✅ master’s degree
If you mean more than one master, use:
✅ masters
If you mean that someone becomes highly skilled at something, masters can also be a verb:
She masters new skills quickly.
And when you name a specific degree, use the formal title:
✅ Master of Arts
✅ Master of Science
The easiest rule to remember is:
Graduate degree → master’s
More than one master → masters
Formal degree title → Master of Arts / Master of Science
Once you understand the role of the apostrophe, masters or master’s becomes much easier to choose correctly.
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I am Evan Whitmore, an English language writer and the person who started GrammarGuidez.com. I made GrammarGuidez.com to make grammar, spelling, vocabulary and words that are often confused easier to understand.
I like taking to understand English words and grammar rules and turning them into simple and clear explanations. My aim is to help students, writers, bloggers, ESL learners and regular English speakers feel more sure when they write and talk.
At GrammarGuidez.com I work on real life examples easy to understand explanations comparing words, spelling changes and how American English is used every day.
I think learning English doesn’t need to be hard. A good explanation and some good examples can make tough grammar topics much simpler to learn
