Listing Master’s Suffix After Name (Style Guide)

Place a master’s degree after your name only after the institution has formally awarded it. Use the exact degree title or abbreviation shown in your official records, then follow the style required by your employer, publication, licensing body, or institution. There is no single universal rule for periods, commas, or whether to include the suffix at all.

If you are unsure whether to write Jordan Lee, MA or Jordan Lee, M.A., you are not alone. The punctuation can look like a small detail, but the right choice depends on the rules for the place where your name will appear.

In advising conversations, I have seen people focus on periods before checking the more important question: Does the abbreviation match the degree they actually earned? Start with the award itself. Then check the style guide for the setting. That order helps you avoid both formatting errors and inaccurate claims.

What goes after your name?

A post-nominal is a letter or set of letters placed after a person’s name to show a degree or other qualification. For a master’s degree, the correct letters depend on the specific award and the rules that apply to the document or profile.

A common format is First Last, Abbreviation. For example, a person whose official award is a Master of Arts might use Jordan Lee, MA if that is the institution’s abbreviation and the relevant style guide omits periods.

The suffix is not the degree’s full name. It is a short form of the credential, and the short form can vary by institution or style. Some style guides use periods in abbreviations, such as M.A.; others use MA. Neither form is automatically correct in every setting.

The abbreviation must match the degree

An official abbreviation identifies a particular award. It is not a personal choice or a general label for “master’s degree.” Check your diploma, transcript, or student record for the degree name, and use the corresponding abbreviation approved by your institution or required by your style guide.

For example, MA, MS, MBA, MFA, and MSW refer to different types of degrees. They are not interchangeable. Do not replace a specific award with MA or MS simply because those letters look familiar.

These are examples, not universal templates. Degree names and abbreviations can differ among institutions and countries. When in doubt, ask the registrar or consult the institution’s official degree information.

Confirm that the degree was awarded

A master’s post-nominal is appropriate only when the degree has been formally conferred. Being enrolled, completing coursework, or reaching candidacy does not by itself mean the award has been granted. Check your official transcript or diploma before adding the letters to a public profile or signature.

Check the degree title and conferral status

“Conferred” means the institution has formally awarded the degree. A student may have finished classes but still be waiting for a final requirement, review, or official conferral date. Do not use the post-nominal as if the degree were awarded until the institution confirms that it is.

Use this sequence:

1. Check the official record. Look at your transcript, diploma, or student account for the degree title and award status.
2. Confirm the abbreviation. If your record does not show one, check the institution’s catalog or ask the registrar.
3. Check the date if needed. Some applications or employers ask when the credential was awarded. Use the official date, not the date you expect it to be awarded.
4. Update your materials after conferral. Change your email signature, résumé, biography, and online profiles only when the award is confirmed.

If you are still studying, describe your status in words where relevant, such as “master’s student” or “candidate,” but do not present the post-nominal as an earned credential. Use the wording your institution or program permits.

Verify recognition when it matters

If an employer, licensing body, or application needs to verify a degree’s recognition, check the institution and award through the relevant official sources. In the United States, the Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation provide information on accreditation. Accreditation may matter to credential recognition, but it does not decide whether to write periods in MA or M.A..

Choose the style for the place you are writing

A style guide is a set of rules for how a particular organization or publication presents text. For degree suffixes, follow the rules of the place where your name will appear. If no rules are provided, choose a clear format and use it consistently.

A publication may set its own style. An employer may prefer a shorter email signature. A licensing body may require a particular credential format. Your personal preference comes last when a formal rule applies.

Use one punctuation style consistently

Periods in degree abbreviations are a style choice, not a different credential. If your chosen style uses M.A., use that form throughout the document. If it uses MA, do not switch between the two formats in the same résumé, report, or staff directory.

Also check commas and spacing. A common form is Jordan Lee, MA, with a comma before the post-nominal. But a required template may place credentials differently, so follow the template rather than changing it to match a general example.

If you cannot find a rule, ask an editor, supervisor, registrar, or licensing contact. A quick check is especially useful when the format is tied to a regulated title or application requirement.

Decide when the suffix is useful

Including a degree after your name can help readers understand relevant qualifications. It is not required in every context. Consider the audience, the purpose of the document, and any rules that apply before adding it.

For a professional biography, a relevant master’s degree may help establish expertise. In a casual message, the letters may add little. Some organizations prefer clean name lines or list degrees elsewhere, so follow local practice when you can.

Common situations and examples

The examples below show how the same credential might be presented in different settings. They are illustrative; the required style of your employer, school, or publication takes priority.

• Email signature: Jordan Lee, MS may be useful when the degree is relevant to the person’s role and the workplace allows credentials.
• Résumé: Place the degree in the education section. Add it after your name only if it suits the field or the résumé’s style.
• Academic biography: Use the official degree abbreviation if the publisher’s instructions permit post-nominals.
• Social profile: A suffix can clarify a qualification, but make sure the profile does not imply a license or authority you do not hold.
• Application form: Enter the degree where the form asks for it. Do not add extra letters to your name field unless requested.

Avoid stacking credentials without checking their order or relevance. If you hold more than one degree, the organization may have a rule about which ones to list and in what order. When no rule exists, include only credentials that help the intended reader, and use the official forms for each.

Common mistakes to avoid

Small formatting choices are easy to fix. An inaccurate credential claim is more serious. Check both the award and the required style before publishing your name, especially in professional, academic, or licensing contexts.

Common errors include:

• Using a degree before it is conferred. Completed classes do not always mean the degree has been formally awarded.
• Inventing an abbreviation. Do not create a shortened form based on what seems obvious.
• Substituting one degree for another. An MBA, MFA, or MSW is not the same credential as an MA or MS.
• Mixing punctuation styles. Choose the form required by the relevant guide and apply it consistently.
• Assuming one format is universal. MA and M.A. are style variants, not a single worldwide rule.
• Using a generic “Master’s” suffix. “Master’s” is not a reliable substitute for the official degree abbreviation.
• Listing a credential that the organization does not accept. Follow the employer’s, publisher’s, or licensing body’s requirements.

When the credential’s legitimacy or recognition is in question, verify the award and institution through appropriate official sources. Do not treat punctuation as proof of a degree, and do not treat accreditation as a formatting rule.

FAQ: Master’s degree after a name

These answers summarize the main steps: confirm the award, use its official abbreviation, and follow the style rules for the place where your name appears. If a formal guide or credentialing body gives a different instruction, follow that instruction.

Should I write MA or M.A. after my name?
Use the form required by your institution, employer, publication, or other relevant style guide. There is no single universal punctuation rule.

Do I put a comma before the degree?
A common format uses a comma, as in Jordan Lee, MA. Follow the document’s style guide or template if it specifies another format.

Can I use the suffix after finishing my final class?
Only after the degree has been formally conferred. Check your transcript, diploma, or student record to confirm the award.

Can I use “Master’s” after my name?
Usually, do not use “Master’s” as a suffix. Use the official abbreviation for your specific degree, if post-nominals are appropriate in that context.

Is an MBA the same as an MA or MS?
No. These abbreviations identify different degree types. Use the abbreviation that matches your official award.

Can I use my degree suffix on a résumé?
You may, if it fits the field and résumé style. The education section should also identify the degree clearly, and employer instructions take priority.

Should I include the suffix in an email signature?
Include it if it is relevant and your organization permits it. If it adds no useful context, you can leave it out.

Can I list a degree while I am still enrolled?
Do not present an unawarded degree as completed. You may describe yourself as a student or candidate if that wording is accurate and allowed.

Does accreditation determine whether I use periods?
No. Accreditation may matter when recognition of a degree is being checked. Punctuation depends on the applicable style rules.

What if my diploma and a style guide use different abbreviations?
Check whether the style guide requires a particular form. If it does, follow that rule while making sure the degree itself is represented accurately. If unclear, ask the organization or institution.

(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Alan Westbrook. Visit our Meet the Team page.)