Have you ever stopped mid-sentence and wondered whether it should be a MA or an MA? You’re not alone. A MA or An MA? The Complete Guide to Saying Your Degree Correctly starts with one simple idea: English articles depend on sound, not just spelling.
The confusion usually comes from seeing the letter M and assuming that a MA must be correct. But when you say MA aloud, it sounds like “em-ay,” which begins with a vowel sound. That’s why an MA and an MA degree are the standard choices.
This small grammar point can make your academic writing, resume, CV, or professional writing sound more polished. Once you understand the pronunciation rule, choosing the right article becomes quick, natural, and much easier to remember.
Is It “A MA” or “An MA”?
The correct expression is “an MA.”
For example:
- She earned an MA in English literature.
- He is pursuing an MA in history.
- After completing an MA, she began teaching.
- He applied for an MA program in political science.
The tempting version, “a MA,” doesn’t follow standard English article rules.
Why does an work here?
Because when you pronounce MA, you don’t say the letter as “muh.” You say the letter M as “em.” That creates a vowel sound at the beginning:
M → “em” → vowel sound → an MA
The spelling can make the rule look strange. The pronunciation makes it clear.
The simple rule
Use:
- an MA ✅
- a MA ❌
However, write:
- a Master of Arts ✅
- an Master of Arts ❌
That’s because Master begins with the consonant sound /m/.
This distinction is one of the clearest examples of how English grammar follows sound rather than spelling.
Why Is “An MA” Grammatically Correct?
The English articles a and an are indefinite articles. They introduce a singular countable noun when you’re talking about something generally or mentioning it for the first time.
The basic rule is:
| Article | Use it before | Example |
| a | A consonant sound | a book |
| an | A vowel sound | an apple |
The important word in that rule is sound.
It isn’t:
“Use a before consonant letters and an before vowel letters.”
Instead, the real principle is:
Choose the article based on the sound that immediately follows it.
That’s why English has expressions such as:
- an hour
- an honest person
- an MBA
- an MA
- a university
- a European country
- a one-time event
At first glance, these examples can look inconsistent. They aren’t.
The sound explains everything
Consider hour.
The word starts with the letter h, but the h isn’t pronounced in standard pronunciation. The word begins with a vowel sound.
So we say:
an hour
Now consider university.
It begins with the letter u, but the word starts with a “yoo” sound. That’s a consonant sound.
So we say:
a university
The same principle applies to MA.
The written abbreviation starts with M, but the spoken abbreviation starts with “em.”
Therefore:
an MA
How Do You Pronounce MA?
MA usually stands for Master of Arts.
When spoken as an abbreviation, it’s normally pronounced by saying the individual letters:
M → “em”
A → “ay”
Together:
MA → “em ay”
That first sound determines the article.
For example:
She earned an MA in history.
When spoken naturally, the phrase begins with the sound “an em…”
That’s why “an MA” sounds natural to English speakers.
Why the letter M causes confusion
The letter M belongs to the consonants of the English alphabet. That fact is true.
However, the name of the letter begins with a vowel sound.
This distinction matters in many areas of English grammar.
Compare these:
- B → “bee” → consonant sound → a BA
- M → “em” → vowel sound → an MA
- P → “pee” → consonant sound → a PhD
- F → “eff” → vowel sound → an MFA
The grammar doesn’t care whether the underlying letter is classified as a vowel or consonant. It responds to the sound you actually pronounce.
A MA vs. An MA: Examples in Real Sentences
Seeing the rule in complete sentences makes it easier to apply.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
| She earned a MA. | She earned an MA. | “M” is pronounced “em.” |
| He completed a MA in history. | He completed an MA in history. | The abbreviation begins with a vowel sound. |
| She applied for a MA program. | She applied for an MA program. | “MA” is pronounced “em ay.” |
| He has a MA degree. | He has an MA degree. | “An” agrees with the sound of MA. |
Here are some natural examples:
- After earning an MA in history, Daniel began working at a museum.
- She is considering an MA because she wants to specialize in linguistics.
- The university offers an MA in creative writing.
- He completed an MA before entering the doctoral program.
- An MA can provide advanced study in a particular academic field.
Notice that the article stays an even when another noun follows the abbreviation.
That’s because the immediate spoken word after the article is still MA.
Does “A” or “An” Depend on Spelling?
No. Pronunciation determines the choice.
This is one of the most useful rules to remember when dealing with abbreviations.
English spelling and pronunciation don’t always line up neatly. That’s why simply looking at the first written character can lead you to the wrong article.
Consider these examples:
Words beginning with vowel letters but consonant sounds
- a university
- a union
- a European
- a useful tool
- a one-year program
The first letters are vowels in several of these words. Yet their initial sounds are consonant sounds.
Words beginning with consonant letters but vowel sounds
- an hour
- an honest answer
- an MBA
- an MA
- an MS
- an FBI agent
The spelling starts with a consonant letter, but the spoken form begins with a vowel sound.
This is why memorizing a list of words isn’t as useful as understanding the underlying rule.
Listen to the first sound. Then choose the article.
MA vs. Master of Arts: Which Article Should You Use?
This is where another common mistake appears.
When you use the abbreviation, write:
an MA
When you spell out the degree name, write:
a Master of Arts
The difference comes from pronunciation.
With the abbreviation
an MA
The abbreviation is pronounced:
“em ay”
The first sound is a vowel sound.
With the full degree title
a Master of Arts
The word Master starts with the consonant sound /m/.
So these sentences are both correct:
- She earned an MA in English.
- She earned a Master of Arts in English.
But this sentence isn’t standard:
- She earned an Master of Arts in English. ❌
The article changes because the spoken word immediately following the article changes.
A useful comparison
| Expression | Correct article | Reason |
| MA | an | “em” begins with a vowel sound |
| Master of Arts | a | “Master” begins with a consonant sound |
| MBA | an | “em” begins with a vowel sound |
| BA | a | “bee” begins with a consonant sound |
| PhD | a | “pee” begins with a consonant sound |
What Does MA Stand For?
MA commonly stands for Master of Arts, a graduate-level academic degree.
The degree can cover a wide range of subjects, particularly in fields associated with the humanities, social sciences, languages, communication, education, and related disciplines. However, universities don’t all use identical degree naming systems.
Depending on the institution and subject, you may encounter degrees such as:
- MA in English
- MA in History
- MA in Sociology
- MA in Political Science
- MA in Psychology
- MA in Communication
- MA in Education
- MA in Economics
The exact title and structure depend on the university.
Some institutions may use different abbreviations for closely related graduate programs. For that reason, when you’re writing about a specific qualification, it’s smart to check the official degree title used by the institution.
Should You Write MA or M.A.?
You’ll encounter both MA and M.A.
Neither spelling changes the pronunciation.
Both forms represent the letters:
M + A
So the article remains:
- an MA ✅
- an M.A. ✅
The difference usually comes down to style conventions.
Some academic institutions and publications prefer abbreviations without periods:
MA
Others use periods:
M.A.
Neither punctuation system changes the underlying grammar.
Which version should you use?
The best approach is consistency.
If you’re writing an academic document, check the institution’s preferred style. If you’re writing for a publication, follow its style guide.
For example, don’t switch randomly between:
She earned an MA in history.
She later completed an M.A. in education.
If both refer to the same style convention, choose one format and use it consistently unless a formal title requires otherwise.
Is “An MA Degree” Correct?
Yes. “An MA degree” is grammatically correct.
For example:
She earned an MA degree in English.
However, “MA” already identifies a degree, so “MA degree” can sometimes feel slightly repetitive.
Depending on the context, these options may sound cleaner:
- She earned an MA in English.
- She completed an MA in English.
- She holds an MA in English.
- She earned a Master of Arts in English.
Still, “an MA degree” isn’t grammatically wrong.
The same pattern appears with other academic abbreviations:
- an MBA degree
- an MFA degree
- an MS degree
- a BA degree
- a PhD
Whether you need the word degree depends largely on the surrounding sentence and what you’re trying to emphasize.
Common Mistakes With “A MA” and “An MA”
The confusion usually comes from a few predictable mistakes.
Mistake: Writing “a MA”
This happens because writers see the letter M and instinctively choose a.
But the abbreviation is pronounced “em ay.”
Correct:
She earned an MA.
Incorrect:
She earned a MA.
Mistake: Writing “an Master of Arts”
The opposite error occurs when someone remembers that MA requires an and applies the same article to the full degree name.
Correct:
She earned a Master of Arts.
Incorrect:
She earned an Master of Arts.
The word that follows the article is Master, not “MA.”
Mistake: Choosing the article from the written letter
This approach causes trouble because English articles follow sounds.
Instead of asking:
“Does this abbreviation start with a consonant letter?”
Ask:
“What sound do I hear first?”
That’s the more reliable question.
Mistake: Assuming every degree abbreviation uses “an”
They don’t.
Compare:
- an MA
- an MBA
- an MFA
- a BA
- a BS
- a PhD
- a JD
The pronunciation determines the article in every case.
Other Degree Abbreviations That Use “An”
The MA rule becomes easier to understand when you compare it with similar abbreviations.
| Degree | Spoken beginning | Correct form |
| MA | “em” | an MA |
| MBA | “em” | an MBA |
| MFA | “em” | an MFA |
| MS | “em” | an MS |
| MEd | “em” | an MEd |
| MD | “em” | an MD |
The important pattern isn’t the meaning of the degree. It’s the first spoken sound.
For instance:
She completed an MBA before joining the company.
The same article logic applies:
M → “em” → vowel sound → an MBA
Likewise:
He earned an MFA in film.
Again, the abbreviation begins with the spoken name “em.”
Degree Abbreviations That Use “A”
Now compare abbreviations whose spoken names begin with consonant sounds.
| Degree | Pronunciation | Correct form |
| BA | “bee ay” | a BA |
| BS | “bee ess” | a BS |
| BFA | “bee eff ay” | a BFA |
| PhD | “pee aych dee” | a PhD |
| JD | “jay dee” | a JD |
These examples prove why the sound-based rule matters.
Take PhD.
The abbreviation contains the letter P, but P is pronounced “pee.” That starts with a consonant sound.
Therefore:
She earned a PhD.
Not:
She earned an PhD. ❌
The same logic works in reverse with MA.
What About MA Before Another Noun?
You can use MA naturally before nouns such as student, program, candidate, and graduate.
Examples include:
- an MA student
- an MA program
- an MA candidate
- an MA graduate
- an MA thesis
- an MA course
Consider this sentence:
She joined an MA program after completing her undergraduate degree.
The article an belongs to MA, not to the word “program.”
That’s an important distinction.
The structure is:
an + MA + noun
The pronunciation still begins with “em.”
MA student vs. master’s student
You may also encounter:
- an MA student
- a master’s student
Both can work, but they aren’t structured in exactly the same way.
In an MA student, the article responds to the pronunciation of MA.
In a master’s student, the article responds to the consonant sound at the beginning of master’s.
So:
an MA student
but:
a master’s student
Again, the first sound controls the article.
A Simple Rule for Remembering “An MA”
If the whole discussion feels like more grammar than you wanted before lunch, use one quick trick:
Say the abbreviation aloud.
Don’t look at the first written letter. Pronounce it.
Say:
M — “em”
Now listen to the beginning.
“Em” starts with a vowel sound.
Therefore:
an MA
You can apply exactly the same test to unfamiliar abbreviations.
The sound test
Step one: Say the abbreviation aloud.
Step two: Listen to its first sound.
Step three: Use an before a vowel sound.
Step four: Use a before a consonant sound.
For example:
| Abbreviation | Say it aloud | Article |
| MA | “em ay” | an MA |
| MBA | “em bee ay” | an MBA |
| BA | “bee ay” | a BA |
| PhD | “pee aych dee” | a PhD |
| MFA | “em eff ay” | an MFA |
This method is far more dependable than judging the first written letter.
A Practical Style Guide for Writing About an MA
When writing about an MA in a resume, biography, article, academic document, or professional profile, these patterns are useful.
When describing a qualification
She earned an MA in English literature.
When discussing someone’s education
He holds an MA in history.
When discussing enrollment
She is pursuing an MA in sociology.
When describing a program
The university offers an MA program in communication.
When spelling out the degree
She earned a Master of Arts in English.
When mentioning the abbreviation after the full name
She earned a Master of Arts (MA) in English.
This last format can be especially useful when introducing an abbreviation in formal writing.
Read More: Appreciative of vs Appreciative for: The Complete Usage Guide
Case Study: Why the First Sound Matters
Imagine a university website introducing three graduates.
The first student has a Master of Arts.
The second has a Bachelor of Arts.
The third has a Doctor of Philosophy.
A university writer might describe them like this:
Maria earned an MA in history.
James earned a BA in economics.
David earned a PhD in philosophy.
Why do the articles differ?
It has nothing to do with which degree is more advanced. It doesn’t depend on the number of letters in the abbreviation either.
Listen to the first sounds:
- MA → “em” → vowel sound → an
- BA → “bee” → consonant sound → a
- PhD → “pee” → consonant sound → a
The grammar is consistent in all three cases.
The pronunciation makes the decision.
A Quick Comparison: MA and Similar Expressions
| Phrase | Correct? | Explanation |
| an MA | ✅ | “M” sounds like “em” |
| a MA | ❌ | Uses the wrong article |
| a Master of Arts | ✅ | “Master” begins with a consonant sound |
| an Master of Arts | ❌ | “Master” doesn’t begin with a vowel sound |
| an M.A. | ✅ | Punctuation doesn’t change pronunciation |
| an MA degree | ✅ | “MA” begins with a vowel sound |
| a master’s degree | ✅ | “Master’s” begins with a consonant sound |
This table captures the main distinction:
MA → an
Master → a
Once that difference becomes familiar, the rest becomes straightforward.
Conclusion:
Choosing between a MA and an MA becomes easy when you listen to the pronunciation instead of looking only at the spelling. Since MA is pronounced “em-ay” and starts with a vowel sound, an MA is the correct choice. Keep this simple rule in mind, and you’ll feel more confident using the right article in academic, professional, and everyday writing.
FAQs:
Is it a MA or an MA?
It is an MA because MA is pronounced “em-ay,” which begins with a vowel sound.
Is it a MA degree or an MA degree?
The correct form is an MA degree. The article depends on the sound of the abbreviation, not the letter it begins with.
Why do we use “an” before MA?
We use an because the spoken name of M begins with the vowel sound “eh.”
Should I write “a MA” in formal writing?
No. In standard English, an MA is the natural and grammatically correct form.
Does the same rule apply to other abbreviations?
Yes. Choose a or an based on the first sound you hear when saying the abbreviation aloud. For example, “MBA” begins with an “em” sound, so we say an MBA.
