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English to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary / grammar, university degrees | | English term or phrase: Masters or Master's (degree)? | I'm having a brain block here.
Does one say:
I have my Master's degree
I have my Masters degree
(or even: I have a Master degree)
And what about with the noun "program"? Master's Program or Masters Program? |
| | | Master's degree | Explanation:
Better yet Master of Arts or Master of Science degree.
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Note added at 2004-02-05 01:29:47 (GMT)
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Note to Nancy Arrowsmith:
The people who grant the Master of Arts or Science degrees are doctors -- not masters.
Not to everyone:
This discussion has proven somewhat interesting and has caused me to think a little harder. I suspect the tendency to drop the apostrophe has occurred, because of the following confusion. There are many different kinds of Master of Arts and Science degrees, and it is thus common to speak of more than one. How does one go about it, though?
Consider the phrases \"I have two Master\'s degrees\" or that institution awards many different Master\'s degrees in the visual arts. In the first sentence there is only one master with two degrees. In the second there are many masters each with one or more degrees. Should one not then write Masters\' degrees? Is it not this potential toggling back and forth with regard to the position of the apostrophe that has led many people to drop it altogether?
Then too, since it is doctors who award the degree, one can easily imagine some degree (pun intended) of condescension (coming down) and disdain (going up) for lack of precision (coming down) or over precision (going up) with regard to the presence or absence of an elevated comma.
No, Rowan, I would not promote the absence of the apostrophe, no more than I would promote dropping the dot over the i. One has to draw the line somewhere (pun intended)!
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| Selected response from:
R. A. Stegemann
Saudi Arabia
Local time: 14:14
| Grading comment Interesting how a simple question turns out to be so complex! I don't think we concluded anything absolutely, but am now personally leaning towards "Master's", although I do agree with Rowan's point that everyday usage practically makes both possible. Alaa also makes a valid point. Thank you also to John and Mihaela for your comments.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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5 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): +9 Master's degree
Explanation:
Better yet Master of Arts or Master of Science degree.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-05 01:29:47 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Note to Nancy Arrowsmith:
The people who grant the Master of Arts or Science degrees are doctors -- not masters.
Not to everyone:
This discussion has proven somewhat interesting and has caused me to think a little harder. I suspect the tendency to drop the apostrophe has occurred, because of the following confusion. There are many different kinds of Master of Arts and Science degrees, and it is thus common to speak of more than one. How does one go about it, though?
Consider the phrases \"I have two Master\'s degrees\" or that institution awards many different Master\'s degrees in the visual arts. In the first sentence there is only one master with two degrees. In the second there are many masters each with one or more degrees. Should one not then write Masters\' degrees? Is it not this potential toggling back and forth with regard to the position of the apostrophe that has led many people to drop it altogether?
Then too, since it is doctors who award the degree, one can easily imagine some degree (pun intended) of condescension (coming down) and disdain (going up) for lack of precision (coming down) or over precision (going up) with regard to the presence or absence of an elevated comma.
No, Rowan, I would not promote the absence of the apostrophe, no more than I would promote dropping the dot over the i. One has to draw the line somewhere (pun intended)!
| R. A. Stegemann
Saudi Arabia
Local time: 14:14
Native speaker of:  English
PRO pts in pair: 132
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| | Grading comment | Interesting how a simple question turns out to be so complex! I don't think we concluded anything absolutely, but am now personally leaning towards "Master's", although I do agree with Rowan's point that everyday usage practically makes both possible. Alaa also makes a valid point. Thank you also to John and Mihaela for your comments. |
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