A MA or An MA? The Correct Grammar Rule Explained

Haseeb Mehboob

September 08, 2026

1 comment

Is it a MA or an MA? Most people guess wrong because they trust spelling over sound. The truth is simple: English articles follow pronunciation, not the first letter. And that one rule instantly clears up years of confusion.

MA is spoken as “em-ay,” which starts with a vowel sound. That’s why “an MA” is the only grammatically correct form. This guide breaks down the rule, the exceptions, and how to use it with confidence.

Table of Contents

Understanding A MA or An MA: The Definitive Guide

Choosing the right article before a degree abbreviation feels like it should be easy, until you actually say it out loud. This guide walks through the exact rule behind “an MA,” how it applies to related abbreviations, and how to avoid the small mistakes that quietly hurt professional writing.

You will also learn how capitalization, apostrophes, and abbreviation style affect the way you present your degree, whether on a resume, in an email, or in academic work.

How English Articles Work: A vs An

Most learners are taught a simplified version of this rule in school:

Use “a” before a word that starts with a consonant.
Use “an” before a word that starts with a vowel.

That version is incomplete. English articles actually depend on the sound a word makes, not the letter it starts with. Once you apply the sound-based version of the rule, exceptions like MA stop being confusing.

The accurate rule is:

Use “a” before a consonant sound.
Use “an” before a vowel sound.

Examples That Prove It’s About Sound

A few everyday examples make the sound-based rule obvious.

Word	Starts With	Sound	Correct Article
hour	H (silent)	vowel sound	an hour
university	U	consonant sound (“yoo”)	a university
MBA	M	vowel sound (“em”)	an MBA
MA	M	vowel sound (“em”)	an MA
master’s	M	consonant sound	a master’s degree

Notice that “hour” starts with a consonant letter but a vowel sound, while “university” starts with a vowel letter but a consonant sound. The same logic applies to MA.

Why Abbreviations Change the Rule

Abbreviations behave differently from ordinary words because each letter is pronounced individually. That means the article depends on how the first letter sounds when spoken aloud, not how it looks on the page.

Here is a quick reference for common letters:

Letter	Pronunciation	Sound Type	Article
A	“ay”	vowel	an A
B	“bee”	consonant	a B
M	“em”	vowel	an M
F	“ef”	vowel	an F
P	“pee”	consonant	a P
X	“eks”	vowel	an X

Since MA is pronounced “em-ay,” it starts with the vowel sound “em.” That single detail explains why “an MA” is correct even though M looks like a consonant.

So… Is It A MA or An MA?

The correct form is an MA. This is true in speech, in writing, on resumes, and in academic papers.

Correct Sentence Examples

She completed an MA in Psychology.
He is pursuing an MA in English Literature.
I earned an MA from a state university.

Incorrect Examples

She completed a MA in Psychology.
He is pursuing a MA in English Literature.
I earned a MA from a state university.

Once you focus on sound instead of spelling, the correct choice becomes automatic.

Understanding What MA Means (Pronunciation + Meaning)

MA stands for Master of Arts, one of the most widely recognized postgraduate degrees in the world. When spoken, it is pronounced letter by letter as “em-ay,” which is exactly why the article “an” applies.

Key Facts About the MA Degree

Typically a one to two year postgraduate program.
Common in humanities and social sciences, including English, History, Sociology, and Psychology.
May require coursework, a thesis, or a final research project.
Usually pursued after completing a bachelor’s degree.

A Master of Arts or An Master of Arts?

When you spell out the full degree name instead of using the abbreviation, the rule changes. “Master” begins with a firm consonant sound, so the correct article is “a,” not “an.”

Correct Examples

She holds a Master of Arts in English.
He earned a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago.
They are offering a Master of Arts program in Sociology this fall.

Writing “an Master of Arts” is always incorrect, since the full word “Master” never carries a vowel sound at the start.

Capitalization Rules for Academic Degrees

Article choice is only part of the picture. Capitalization trips up just as many writers.

General Rules

Capitalize the formal name of a degree, such as Master of Arts or Bachelor of Science.
Lowercase the generic form, such as master’s degree or bachelor’s degree.
Capitalize the abbreviation itself, such as MA or MBA.

Table: What to Capitalize

Correct	Incorrect
She earned a Master of Arts in English.	She earned a master of arts in English.
I completed my master’s degree.	I completed my Master’s Degree.
He has an MA in Economics.	He has an ma in Economics.

Examples From Style Guides

Style guides do not always agree on every detail, but the underlying pattern is consistent. APA generally lowercases generic terms like master’s degree. MLA capitalizes formal degree names in full. Chicago style typically treats abbreviations like MA without periods unless an institution’s own formatting requires them. Whichever style you follow, consistency throughout the document matters more than the specific choice.

Possessive Forms: Master’s vs Masters

Should it be “master’s degree” or “masters degree”? Only one is correct.

Why?

The apostrophe shows possession. The degree effectively belongs to a master, which is why the possessive form is required in everyday usage.

Correct Usage

I earned a master’s degree in Sociology.
She completed her master’s degree last year.

Incorrect Usage

I earned a masters degree in Sociology.
She completed her master’s of Arts.

Note that the full formal title, Master of Arts, never takes an apostrophe. The apostrophe rule applies only to the generic phrase “master’s degree.”

Abbreviating the Degree: MA vs M.A.

Both MA and M.A. refer to the same degree. The choice between them is mostly a matter of style and region rather than correctness.

Regional Differences

Region	Commonly Preferred Form
United States	M.A.
United Kingdom	MA
Canada	MA
Australia	MA

Consistency Is Key

Whichever form you choose, use it consistently throughout the same document. Mixing MA and M.A. in one resume, essay, or academic paper looks inconsistent and can distract from otherwise strong writing.

Degree vs Field of Study

Many writers also struggle with combining the degree name and the subject area correctly.

Correct Formats

an MA in Economics
a master’s in economics
a Master of Arts in Economics

Each version is correct in its own context. The abbreviated and full forms both work, as long as the article and capitalization match the version being used.

Quick Comparison Table

Phrase	Meaning
an MA	Abbreviation of the degree
a master’s degree	Generic degree term
a Master of Arts in Economics	Full formal degree name
an MA in Economics	Abbreviation with field of study

More Examples: Other Tricky “A vs An” Words

The sound-based article rule extends far beyond MA. A few common examples show the same pattern at work.

an MBA, because it is pronounced “em-bee-ay”
a PhD, because it is pronounced “pee-aitch-dee”
an MS, because it is pronounced “em-ess”
a European, because “European” is pronounced with a “yoo” consonant sound
a university, for the same “yoo” reason
an hour, because the “h” is silent

Once you understand the underlying rule, these examples stop feeling like exceptions and start feeling like the same logic applied consistently.

Common Mistakes People Make

Even confident writers slip up on this rule from time to time.

Frequent Errors

Writing “a MA degree” instead of “an MA degree”
Writing “an Master of Arts” instead of “a Master of Arts”
Dropping the apostrophe in master’s degree
Mixing MA and M.A. within the same document
Capitalizing generic terms like master’s degree unnecessarily

Why These Errors Happen

Most of these mistakes come from relying on spelling instead of pronunciation. Since M looks like a consonant on the page, it is easy to assume “a” is correct without saying the word aloud first. Copying formatting from inconsistent sources online can also spread these errors further.

How to Avoid These Mistakes

A few quick checklists make it easy to get this right every time.

Article Checklist

Does the word start with a vowel sound when spoken aloud?
If yes, use “an.” If no, use “a.”

Capitalization Checklist

Formal degree name: capitalize.
Generic degree term: lowercase.
Abbreviation: capitalize, and stay consistent with your chosen style.

Consistency Checklist

Pick either MA or M.A. and use it throughout the entire document.
Avoid switching formats mid-document.

Apostrophe Checklist

master’s degree: apostrophe required.
Master of Arts: no apostrophe needed.

Quick Practice: A MA or An MA Worksheet

Test what you have learned. Fill in each blank with “a” or “an.”

She is applying for ___ MA in Political Science.
He completed ___ Master of Arts last spring.
I want ___ MBA after finishing my current job.
They offered her ___ university scholarship.
He earned ___ MS in Computer Science.
She is pursuing ___ PhD in Linguistics.

Answers: 1. an, 2. a, 3. an, 4. a, 5. an, 6. a

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is correct, a MA or an MA?

An MA is correct. MA is pronounced “em-ay,” which starts with a vowel sound, so the article “an” applies rather than “a.”

Is it a MA degree or an MA degree?

It is an MA degree. The same pronunciation rule applies whether or not the word “degree” follows the abbreviation.

Why does the article depend on sound instead of spelling?

English articles are chosen based on how a word sounds when spoken, not how it is spelled. This is why silent letters, like the “h” in hour, and letter-based abbreviations, like MA, often break the simple consonant-vowel spelling rule.

Is it an MS or a MS?

It is an MS. MS is pronounced “em-ess,” which begins with the same vowel sound as MA, so it follows the identical rule.

Is it an MBA or a MBA?

It is an MBA. MBA is pronounced “em-bee-ay,” and since it starts with a vowel sound, “an” is the correct article.

Is it a PhD or an PhD?

It is a PhD. Unlike MA, MBA, and MS, PhD is pronounced “pee-aitch-dee,” which starts with a consonant sound, so it takes “a” instead of “an.”

Final Thoughts

Getting this rule right comes down to one idea: articles follow sound, not spelling. Since MA is pronounced “em-ay,” it always takes “an,” while the full term Master of Arts takes “a” because of its consonant start.

This same logic applies to MBA, MS, and other letter-based abbreviations you will use throughout academic and professional writing. Once the rule clicks, you will never have to pause before writing “an MA” again.

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