Choosing between “bachelors” and “bachelor’s degree” can be surprisingly confusing when you are updating your resume, filling out a job application, or writing a biography. Many people accidentally drop the apostrophe or change the plural form because higher education titles do not always follow everyday spelling rules.
You are certainly not alone if you have paused while typing your qualifications into a LinkedIn profile or professional email. This confusion happens because nouns that show possession in academic titles look very similar to standard plural words.
By the end of this guide, you will learn the exact difference between these terms, discover the precise grammar rule behind them, and never have to guess which spelling to use again.
Bachelors Or Bachelor’s Degree
The correct phrase to use when writing about your undergraduate education is a bachelor’s degree. The word “bachelor’s” requires an apostrophe ‘s’ because it is a possessive noun representing a degree belonging to a bachelor. Using “bachelors” without an apostrophe is only correct when referring to unmarried people or plural alumni in general conversation.
Which One Should You Use?
When writing a professional bio, resume, or cover letter, you should always use bachelor’s degree or bachelor of arts/science. The possessive apostrophe shows that the academic honor belongs to the graduate.
On the other hand, if you are talking about multiple graduates as a group, you would say “bachelors.” However, in modern professional writing, people rarely use “bachelors” on its own to mean graduates because it causes confusion with the academic degree title.
Remember this simple rule: if you are talking about the university diploma you earned, it always needs an apostrophe.
Difference Table
| Feature | Bachelor’s Degree | Bachelors |
| Meaning | An undergraduate college degree | Plural form of a single, unmarried person |
| Usage | Resumes, applications, academic writing | Conversational grouping of unmarried adults |
| Grammar | Singular noun with a possessive apostrophe | Plural noun without an apostrophe |
| Context | Higher education and professional fields | Social settings and historical phrasing |
| Frequency | Extremely high in professional English | Very low in everyday writing |
| Everyday Use | “She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology.” | “The bachelors rented a house together.” |
Meaning of Word 1
Definition and Grammar Role
A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate academic course of study successfully completed at a college or university, typically lasting three to four years. Grammatically, the word “bachelor’s” acts as a singular possessive noun that modifies the head noun “degree.”
Everyday Situations
You will encounter this term constantly in career and academic settings. People use it during job interviews, college admissions processes, and networking events.
Natural Examples
- He proudly displayed his bachelor’s degree on the office wall.
- Earning a bachelor’s degree opened up many new career opportunities for her.
- Most entry-level positions require at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Meaning of Word 2
Definition and Grammar Role
The word bachelors without an apostrophe serves two main purposes in the English language. First, it is the standard plural form of the noun “bachelor,” which historically refers to an unmarried man. Second, it is sometimes used informally by speakers to mean multiple undergraduate degrees, though this is grammatically discouraged in formal writing.
Where It Is Used
You will mostly find this word in literature, social discussions, or historical contexts regarding marriage. It is uncommon in modern professional documents unless you are discussing unmarried demographics.
Examples
- The local community center hosted a social event for local bachelors.
- Historically, the term bachelors applied to young men training in a guild before becoming masters.
Why Do People Confuse These Words?
The confusion between these terms comes down to visual similarity and spoken pronunciation. When people speak quickly, the possessive sound at the end of “bachelor’s” blends into the word “degree” in a way that sounds identical to the plural “bachelors.”
Because English speakers often omit apostrophes in casual digital typing, the apostrophe is frequently left out on social media and casual forums. This casual misspelling then spreads, leading learners to believe that the plural version is acceptable for academic qualifications.
Grammar Rule
In English grammar, when an academic degree is named after a title, it takes a possessive apostrophe ‘s’. This indicates that the degree is of a bachelor, master, or doctor.
| Degree Type | Correct Possessive Form | Incorrect Plain Plural |
| Undergraduate | bachelor’s degree | bachelors degree |
| Graduate | master’s degree | masters degree |
| Doctorate | doctor’s degree | doctors degree |
Notice that the same rule applies to master’s degrees and doctorates. You always include the possessive apostrophe before the word “degree.”
Real-Life Examples
Business and Career
- Her resume highlights a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
- The company requires a bachelor’s degree for all managerial promotions.
Everyday English
- My brother is working hard to finish his bachelor’s degree this spring.
- Are you planning to pursue further education after getting your bachelor’s degree?
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: She completed her bachelors degree in psychology last year.
✅ Correct: She completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology last year.
Explanation: A degree belongs to the academic rank of a bachelor, so it requires a possessive apostrophe.
❌ Incorrect: He holds two bachelors in engineering and math.
✅ Correct: He holds two bachelor’s degrees in engineering and math.
Explanation: Even when talking about multiple degrees, each individual diploma remains a “bachelor’s degree.”
Easy Memory Trick
To never misspell this phrase again, think of the degree as belonging to a person named Bachelor. Just like you would say “Sarah’s car” or “Tom’s house,” you must say “a bachelor’s degree.” If the degree belongs to the bachelor, it needs its possessive apostrophe!
Mini Quiz
Question 1: Which sentence is written correctly?
- A) He earned his bachelors degree in history.
- B) He earned his bachelor’s degree in history.
- C) He earned his bachelors’ degree in history.
Answer: B. The word “bachelor’s” needs a singular possessive apostrophe because the degree belongs to a single academic rank.
Question 2: What is the primary grammatical role of the word in “bachelor’s degree”?
- A) Plural noun
- B) Verb phrase
- C) Possessive noun
Answer: C. It is a singular possessive noun describing the type of degree.
Question 3: How should you write multiple undergraduate diplomas on a resume?
- A) Two bachelors
- B) Two bachelor’s degrees
- C) Two bachelors degrees
Answer: B. You should write “two bachelor’s degrees” using the possessive form for each diploma.
Question 4: True or False: “Bachelors” without an apostrophe is the correct way to write an undergraduate qualification in a formal essay.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B. False. Formal writing always requires the possessive apostrophe in “bachelor’s degree.”
Summary Table
| Situation | Correct Form | Incorrect Form |
| Writing a resume | bachelor’s degree | bachelors degree |
| Mentioning multiple diplomas | bachelor’s degrees | bachelors |
| Talking about unmarried men | bachelors | bachelor’s |
| Filling out a job application | bachelor’s degree | bachelors degree |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it spelled bachelor’s degree or bachelors degree?
It is spelled bachelor’s degree with an apostrophe ‘s’. The degree belongs to a bachelor, making it possessive.
Do I need an apostrophe if I have more than one degree?
Yes. When writing about multiple diplomas, you write bachelor’s degrees, keeping the apostrophe on the word bachelor.
Is master’s degree written the same way?
Yes. Master’s degrees and doctor’s degrees follow the exact same possessive grammar rule.
Can I write just “a bachelor” instead of “a bachelor’s degree”?
In casual conversation, people sometimes say “I am a bachelor of arts,” but in professional writing, it is best to specify “a bachelor’s degree in [subject].”
Why do people leave out the apostrophe?
People often omit the apostrophe due to fast typing habits, autocorrect settings, or confusion with plural nouns.
Is there a difference between British and American English on this rule?
No. Both American and British English use the possessive apostrophe for bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates.
How should I capitalize the degree?
You only capitalize the degree name if you are writing out the full formal title (e.g., Bachelor of Science). If you are using it generally (e.g., a bachelor’s degree in science), keep it lowercase.
Conclusion
Mastering the spelling of academic titles removes minor errors that can distract readers of your resume or professional profile. The distinction comes down to simple possession: a degree belongs to a bachelor.
Always remember the single golden rule for your professional writing: add the apostrophe to “bachelor’s” whenever you refer to your college degree. With this habit in place, your writing will remain polished, accurate, and professional in any setting.
I’m Sophie Caldwell, an education-focused writer who loves turning useful learning ideas into easy-to-understand guidance. I write about study routines, note-taking, exam preparation, productivity, and skills that can help students succeed academically. I want my content to feel supportive and practical, especially for students who sometimes feel overwhelmed by their studies. My aim is to make learning more organized, approachable, and enjoyable.
Books:
- Notes That Actually Work
- A Better Way to Study
Marcus Bennett
Nathaniel Brooks