Is it a MA degree or an MA degree? At first glance, the choice seems confusing because the word master’s begins with a consonant sound, while the abbreviation MA begins with the letter “M.” In English, however, articles such as a and an depend on pronunciation rather than spelling.
Since MA is normally pronounced “em-ay,” it begins with a vowel sound, which makes an MA degree the standard grammatical choice.This small grammar rule matters in academic writing, resumes, applications, professional profiles, and everyday English. You may also see related expressions such as MA degree, Master of Arts degree, an MA, and MA graduate.
Knowing when to use each form can help your writing sound polished and professional.In this guide, we’ll explain why an MA degree is correct, how abbreviations affect indefinite articles, and how to use a and an with other academic abbreviations. You’ll also find practical examples, common mistakes, and simple tips that make the rule easy to remember.
Is It “a MA Degree” or “an MA Degree”?
The correct expression is:
an MA degree ✅
The incorrect standard form is:
a MA degree ❌
Here, MA stands for Master of Arts. Academic style guides commonly use MA as the abbreviation for this graduate degree.
The key isn’t the written letter M. Instead, consider how you pronounce the abbreviation:
MA → “em ay”
Because “em” begins with a vowel sound, it takes an.
So you get:
- an MA
- an MA degree
- an MA program
- an MA student
- an MA in English
- an MA from the university
For example:
She earned an MA in English.
He is pursuing an MA degree in history.
She plans to apply for an MA program next year.
The same grammatical principle applies in each sentence.
Quick Answer: “A MA” or “An MA”?
| Expression | Correct? | Explanation |
| an MA | ✅ | MA begins with the vowel sound “em” |
| a MA | ❌ | The abbreviation doesn’t begin with a consonant sound |
| an MA degree | ✅ | “MA” begins with a vowel sound |
| a MA degree | ❌ | “M” is pronounced “em” |
| a Master of Arts | ✅ | “Master” begins with a consonant sound |
| an Master of Arts | ❌ | “Master” begins with /m/ |
| a master’s degree | ✅ | “Master’s” begins with /m/ |
The easiest rule to remember is this:
MA → “em” → vowel sound → an MA
Why Is “An MA Degree” Correct?
The answer comes down to the basic rule for a and an.
Use a before a consonant sound.
Use an before a vowel sound.
Notice that the rule refers to sound, not simply to letters.
For example:
- a book — /b/ is a consonant sound
- a university — “university” begins with the /y/ sound, as in “you”
- an apple — /æ/ is a vowel sound
- an hour — the written h isn’t pronounced
- an MA — “M” is pronounced “em”
This is why spelling alone can lead you astray.
The letter M appears to demand a because M is classified as a consonant. Yet when you say the letter’s name aloud, you begin with a vowel sound:
M → “em”
That first sound controls the article.
The Rule Behind “A” and “An”
Think of the article as responding to the spoken beginning of the next word.
| First sound | Article | Example |
| Consonant sound | a | a BA |
| Vowel sound | an | an MA |
| Consonant sound | a | a PhD |
| Vowel sound | an | an MBA |
| Consonant sound | a | a JD |
| Vowel sound | an | an MFA |
This approach is much more reliable than memorizing individual phrases.
Once you understand the sound, the answer becomes almost automatic.
How Is “MA” Pronounced?
MA is normally pronounced by saying the names of its letters:
M + A → “em ay”
The first part, “em,” begins with a vowel sound.
That’s why you say:
an MA
rather than:
a MA
You don’t pronounce MA like the ordinary word ma in a phrase such as my ma. In the academic abbreviation MA, the letters are normally spoken individually.
That difference matters.
Compare these two situations:
- MA as an academic abbreviation → “em ay”
- ma as an informal word for mother → “ma”
The grammar question in “an MA degree” concerns the academic abbreviation, not the informal word ma.
A Simple Pronunciation Test
If you’re ever unsure, don’t stare at the first letter.
Say the expression aloud.
Try:
a MA degree
Then:
an MA degree
The second version matches the beginning sound of “em.”
You can use this technique with unfamiliar abbreviations, too. Ask yourself:
“What sound do I make first when I say this abbreviation?”
If the answer begins with a vowel sound, use an.
If it begins with a consonant sound, use a.
That’s the real test.
What Does MA Mean?
MA stands for Master of Arts.
It is a graduate-level academic degree commonly associated with disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, languages, communication, and other fields. Universities use MA as the standard abbreviation for Master of Arts in many academic contexts.
Common examples include:
- MA in English
- MA in History
- MA in Psychology
- MA in Sociology
- MA in Political Science
- MA in Communication
- MA in Education
- MA in International Relations
The exact structure of an MA program varies by university and field. Some programs emphasize coursework, while others include substantial research, a thesis, a capstone project, or another final assessment.
However, none of those differences affect the article.
Whether someone is discussing an MA in English or an MA in history, the article remains an because the abbreviation begins with the vowel sound “em.”
MA and Master of Arts Are Not Grammatically Identical
Although MA and Master of Arts refer to the same degree, the article changes when you switch between the abbreviation and the full name.
Compare:
an MA
and:
a Master of Arts
Why does the article change?
Because the actual word following the article changes.
MA is pronounced “em ay.”
Master begins with the consonant sound /m/.
Therefore:
- an MA ✅
- a Master of Arts ✅
The grammar isn’t inconsistent. The pronunciation has changed.
“An MA” vs. “A Master of Arts”
This is one of the most useful comparisons to remember.
| Expression | Correct article | Reason |
| an MA | an | “MA” starts with the vowel sound “em” |
| a Master of Arts | a | “Master” starts with /m/ |
| an MA degree | an | “MA” starts with a vowel sound |
| a Master of Arts degree | a | “Master” starts with /m/ |
| a master’s degree | a | “Master’s” starts with /m/ |
Consider these sentences:
She earned an MA in English.
She earned a Master of Arts in English.
Both are correct.
Now look at this sentence:
She earned an Master of Arts in English. ❌
That doesn’t work because Master begins with a consonant sound.
The same rule applies if you write the shorter phrase a master’s degree:
She earned a master’s degree in English. ✅
Not:
She earned an master’s degree in English. ❌
The article follows the word that actually comes next.
Is “An MA Degree” Grammatically Correct?
Yes. “An MA degree” is grammatically correct.
For example:
She earned an MA degree in English literature.
He is pursuing an MA degree in history.
An MA degree can support further academic or professional goals.
However, there is an important stylistic point.
The abbreviation MA already identifies a degree. Therefore, “an MA” is often more concise than “an MA degree.”
Compare:
She earned an MA in English.
She earned an MA degree in English.
Both are grammatical. The first is usually tighter because MA already tells the reader that you’re talking about a degree.
That doesn’t make “an MA degree” wrong. It simply means that the shorter version may read more smoothly when the context is already clear.
When “An MA Degree” Makes Sense
There are situations where adding degree can make the sentence more explicit.
For example:
An MA degree can be useful for professionals seeking advanced academic credentials.
Here, the writer may want to emphasize the qualification itself.
In other contexts, the shorter version is cleaner:
She holds an MA in English.
There’s no need to add degree because the meaning is already obvious.
A Useful Style Comparison
| Phrase | Grammar | Style |
| an MA | Correct | Concise |
| an MA degree | Correct | Clear but slightly longer |
| a Master of Arts | Correct | Formal and fully spelled out |
| a master’s degree | Correct | Natural and general |
Choose the version that fits the sentence rather than forcing one construction everywhere.
Read More:Fiancé vs. Fiancée: Meaning, Difference, Spelling, and Correct Usage
Examples of “An MA Degree” in Sentences
Seeing the phrase in different contexts makes the rule easier to remember.
Academic Examples
She earned an MA degree in English after completing her undergraduate studies.
He is working toward an MA in history.
The university offers an MA program in communication.
She wrote her thesis while completing an MA degree.
He decided to pursue an MA in political science.
Professional Examples
An MA degree may strengthen a candidate’s academic qualifications for certain roles.
She listed an MA in psychology on her résumé.
He holds an MA in international relations and works in public policy.
The position requires a bachelor’s degree or an MA in a related field.
Everyday Examples
My sister has an MA in English.
He’s considering an MA degree after finishing college.
She completed an MA before beginning her doctoral studies.
Notice how naturally an appears before the abbreviation in every example.
That’s because the pronunciation doesn’t change.
“A Master’s Degree” or “An MA Degree”?
This comparison causes another common mistake.
The correct forms are:
a master’s degree ✅
an MA degree ✅
Why do they use different articles?
Because their first spoken sounds are different.
Master’s begins with the consonant sound /m/.
MA begins with the vowel sound /ɛ/ in “em.”
So:
a + master’s
but:
an + MA
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Phrase | First sound | Correct form |
| master’s degree | /m/ | a master’s degree |
| Master of Arts | /m/ | a Master of Arts |
| MA | /ɛ/ | an MA |
| MA degree | /ɛ/ | an MA degree |
This is a perfect example of why the sound, rather than the written letter, determines the article.
Why “A MA Degree” Is a Common Mistake
The error makes sense if you rely on spelling.
When people see M, they often think:
“M is a consonant, so I should use a.”
That reasoning would work if the article rule depended on the written letter.
It doesn’t.
The relevant question is:
What sound begins the expression when I say it?
The answer for MA is:
“em”
And em starts with a vowel sound.
Therefore:
an MA
The same mistake can happen with many abbreviations.
For example, MBA starts with M on the page, but we pronounce the first letter as “em.”
So we say:
an MBA
Likewise:
an MFA
an MS
an MPH
The spelling may begin with a consonant letter. The pronunciation begins with a vowel sound.
A vs. An With Other Academic Degree Abbreviations
Comparing MA with other degrees makes the pattern much easier to understand.
| Degree | Pronunciation | Correct article | Example |
| MA | “em ay” | an | an MA |
| MBA | “em bee ay” | an | an MBA |
| MFA | “em eff ay” | an | an MFA |
| MS | “em ess” | an | an MS |
| MPH | “em pee aych” | an | an MPH |
| BA | “bee ay” | a | a BA |
| BS | “bee ess” | a | a BS |
| PhD | “pee aych dee” | a | a PhD |
| JD | “jay dee” | a | a JD |
The pattern becomes obvious once you say each abbreviation aloud.
Why “an MBA” Works
MBA begins with the spoken name of M:
M → em
So:
an MBA ✅
Not:
a MBA ❌
Why “a BA” Works
BA begins with the spoken name of B:
B → bee
The first sound is a consonant sound.
Therefore:
a BA ✅
Not:
an BA ❌
Why “a PhD” Works
PhD begins with P:
P → pee
The initial sound is /p/, a consonant sound.
Therefore:
a PhD ✅
This is exactly the same principle as an MA.
MA vs. M.A.: Does Punctuation Change the Article?
You may encounter both MA and M.A.
The punctuation doesn’t change the pronunciation.
Both forms represent Master of Arts, and when the abbreviation is pronounced letter by letter, M is still pronounced “em.”
Therefore:
an MA ✅
and:
an M.A. ✅
The preferred written style depends on the publication, university, or style guide you’re following.
Modern academic and institutional style guides commonly use MA without periods. For example, university style guidance lists MA as the abbreviation for Master of Arts.
The important point for this grammar question is that punctuation doesn’t turn the initial vowel sound into a consonant sound.
So the article remains an.
Common Mistakes With “MA Degree”
Mistake: “A MA Degree”
❌ She earned a MA degree in English.
The problem is the article.
Correct:
✅ She earned an MA degree in English.
The abbreviation begins with the vowel sound “em.”
Mistake: “An Master of Arts”
❌ She earned an Master of Arts.
Correct:
✅ She earned a Master of Arts.
Here, the word immediately after the article is Master, not MA.
Master begins with /m/, a consonant sound.
Mistake: “An Master’s Degree”
❌ He has an master’s degree.
Correct:
✅ He has a master’s degree.
Again, master’s begins with /m/.
Mistake: Choosing the Article by the Letter
This is the underlying problem behind many of these errors.
A writer sees:
M
and chooses a.
Instead, pronounce it:
em
Now the correct article becomes obvious:
an MA
English spelling can sometimes be deceptive. Pronunciation gives you the more reliable answer.
A Quick Trick for Choosing “A” or “An”
Here’s a simple method that works well with abbreviations.
Step One: Say the abbreviation aloud
For MA:
“em ay”
Step Two: Listen to the first sound
You hear:
“em”
That begins with a vowel sound.
Step Three: Choose the article
Use:
an MA
You can apply the same process to other abbreviations.
| Abbreviation | Say it aloud | Article |
| MA | em ay | an |
| MBA | em bee ay | an |
| MS | em ess | an |
| FBI | eff bee eye | an |
| BA | bee ay | a |
| PhD | pee aych dee | a |
| URL | you are el | a |
| CEO | see ee oh | a |
This approach is more useful than memorizing dozens of separate grammar rules.
“An MA Student” and Other Common Phrases
The same article rule applies whenever MA appears at the beginning of a noun phrase.
For example:
- an MA student
- an MA candidate
- an MA graduate
- an MA program
- an MA course
- an MA thesis
- an MA degree
- an MA in English
- an MA from the university
Consider:
She is an MA student in the English department.
Not:
She is a MA student.
The noun student doesn’t determine the article. MA comes immediately after the article, so the pronunciation of MA determines the choice.
The same logic applies to:
He joined an MA program.
She completed an MA thesis.
They advertised an MA course.
In every case, the abbreviation begins with the sound “em.”
Is “An MA in English” Better Than “An MA Degree in English”?
In many sentences, “an MA in English” is the cleaner choice.
Compare:
She earned an MA degree in English.
She earned an MA in English.
Both are grammatically correct. The second is more concise.
The abbreviation MA already communicates that the qualification is a Master of Arts degree. Adding degree isn’t necessary unless you want to emphasize the qualification itself.
For polished writing, especially in résumés, biographies, academic profiles, and short descriptions, the concise version often works better.
For example:
She holds an MA in English from the university.
That’s clear, natural, and efficient.
However, “an MA degree” remains perfectly acceptable when the sentence specifically discusses degrees as qualifications.
A Short Case Study: Choosing the Right Article
Imagine you’re writing a professional biography for someone named Daniel.
You want to describe his education.
The first draft says:
Daniel earned a MA in communication.
Something feels slightly awkward.
The correction is:
Daniel earned an MA in communication.
Why?
Because MA is pronounced “em ay.”
Now suppose you decide to spell out the degree:
Daniel earned a Master of Arts in communication.
The article changes again.
Why?
Because Master begins with the consonant sound /m/.
So one person’s biography can correctly contain either:
Daniel earned an MA in communication.
or:
Daniel earned a Master of Arts in communication.
The difference isn’t about formality alone. It’s about the sound of the word immediately following the article.
A Broader Grammar Lesson: Sound Beats Spelling
The MA question teaches a broader lesson about English articles.
Writers often learn a simplified rule:
Use a before consonants and an before vowels.
That’s useful, but it can be misleading if you interpret it as a spelling rule.
A more accurate version is:
Use “a” before a consonant sound and “an” before a vowel sound.
Consider these examples:
“A” Before a Vowel Letter
a university
The word starts with the letter u, but it sounds like “you-niversity.”
That first sound is /y/, a consonant sound.
So we say a university.
“An” Before a Consonant Letter
an hour
The word starts with h, but the h isn’t pronounced.
The word begins with a vowel sound.
So we say an hour.
“An” Before M in an Abbreviation
an MA
The letter M is a consonant letter, but its spoken name begins with a vowel sound:
em
So we say an MA.
These examples all point to the same principle:
English article choice follows pronunciation more closely than spelling.
Quick Comparison: Correct and Incorrect Forms
| Phrase | Correct? | Correction or reason |
| an MA | ✅ | MA begins with “em” |
| a MA | ❌ | Use an because “em” begins with a vowel sound |
| an MA degree | ✅ | Correct article before MA |
| a MA degree | ❌ | Use an |
| a Master of Arts | ✅ | Master begins with /m/ |
| an Master of Arts | ❌ | Use a |
| a master’s degree | ✅ | Master’s begins with /m/ |
| an master’s degree | ❌ | Use a |
| an MBA | ✅ | M begins with “em” |
| a BA | ✅ | B begins with “bee” |
| a PhD | ✅ | P begins with “pee” |
| an MFA | ✅ | M begins with “em” |
This table captures the entire rule in one place.
Does “MA” Always Mean Master of Arts?
In the context discussed here, MA means Master of Arts.
Academic institutions commonly use MA as the abbreviation for this degree.
However, abbreviations can have different meanings in other contexts. That’s why the surrounding words matter.
For example, MA can refer to other things outside academic degree terminology. When discussing education, though, an MA normally refers to a Master of Arts.
So the article question should always be considered in context.
If the intended meaning is the academic degree and the abbreviation is pronounced “em ay,” then an is the appropriate indefinite article.
Should You Write “MA” or “M.A.”?
There isn’t one universal formatting choice for every publication.
You’ll encounter:
- MA
- M.A.
Both represent Master of Arts.
Many current institutional style guides use MA without periods. For example, Simmons University and the University of Rochester list MA as the abbreviation for Master of Arts.
The best approach is to follow the style requirements of the university, employer, publication, or style guide you’re writing for.
What doesn’t change is the article:
an MA
an M.A.
The punctuation doesn’t change the pronunciation.
Conclusion
The correct expression is “an MA degree,” not “a MA degree.” The reason has nothing to do with the written letter M. Instead, English articles depend on the sound that follows them. Since MA is pronounced “em-ay,” its first sound is a vowel sound, so an is the appropriate indefinite article.This same rule applies to many other academic abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms. When you’re unsure whether to use a or an, say the abbreviation aloud and listen to its first sound. If it begins with a vowel sound, use an. If it begins with a consonant sound, use a.So, in formal writing, resumes, academic applications, and everyday English, write “an MA degree” or simply “an MA.” Once you focus on pronunciation rather than spelling, this seemingly tricky grammar point becomes much easier.
FAQs
Is it “a MA degree” or “an MA degree”?
The correct form is “an MA degree.” MA is pronounced “em-ay,” which begins with a vowel sound.
Why do we say “an MA”?
We say “an MA” because the letter M is pronounced “em.” The word “em” begins with a vowel sound.
Is “MA degree” grammatically correct?
Yes. “MA degree” is grammatically acceptable when no article is needed. For example, “She earned her MA degree last year.”
Is it “an MA” or “a MA”?
The correct form is “an MA.” The pronunciation of M begins with a vowel sound.
Is “an MA degree” formal English?
Yes. “An MA degree” is standard English and works well in academic and professional writing.
Should I write “an MA degree” on a resume?
Yes, if you use the phrase in a sentence. For example, “I hold an MA degree in English.” However, in an education section, simply listing “MA in English” is often cleaner.
What does MA stand for?
MA stands for Master of Arts, a graduate-level academic degree commonly awarded in subjects such as English, history, education, languages, and the humanities.
Is it “a Master of Arts” or “an Master of Arts”?
The correct form is “a Master of Arts.” Although MA takes an, the full phrase begins with the consonant sound in “Master,” so we use a.
Is it “an MBA” or “a MBA”?
The correct form is “an MBA.” MBA is pronounced “em-bee-ay,” so it begins with a vowel sound.
Is it “a BA” or “an BA”?
The correct form is “a BA.” BA is pronounced “bee-ay,” which begins with a consonant sound.
What is the easiest way to choose between “a” and “an” with abbreviations?
Say the abbreviation aloud. If its first sound is a vowel sound, use an. If its first sound is a consonant sound, use a.
