People often use Mc and emcee whenever an event is coming up or ongoing. But are both terms correct, and should you use them interchangeably? Worry not because this mc vs emcee article answers these questions.
Mc is an abbreviation for several things, like a master of ceremonies, one million periods per second, and millicurie. In contrast, emcee refers to the “master of ceremonies.” An emcee is a rap genre musician or someone who provides entertainment at a club or event by performing rap/Djing.
Mc and emcee are exciting words to learn about. Since they have multiple definitions, some of which are unrelated, we’ll clarify everything you need to know in this article.
Definitions Of Mc And Emcee
The beauty of the English language is that it provides definitions, origins, and facts about all popular words, including abbreviations. So, you can quickly find the definitions and other details about words if you know where to look. The definitions of Mc and emcee are:
Definitions Of Mc
Mc is an abbreviation of millicurie. It also refers to one million periods per second. Americans use the term as a short form for a Member of Congress.
Mc is short for Master of Ceremonies. Still, in entertainment or music, an Mc is a person that provides entertainment at a club or an event by instructing the DJ or performing (especially rap music). As a verb to mc means “to perform rap music or as an mc.”
Definitions Of Emcee
“Emcee” also means master of ceremonies. An emcee directs the entertainment at a nightclub, radio station, TV station, event, party, or dinner. They also serve as a host and introduce other speakers and performers.
That means an emcee is a host of a formal or informal occasion. An emcee makes introductory remarks, introduces other speakers, and instructs the occasion.
As a verb, to emcee means “to act as a master of ceremonies.”
In a nutshell, the word emcee means the following in music:
- A rapper (noun)
- To rap as part of a hip-hop performance (verb)
- To perform as an mc (verb)
How To Properly Use Mc And Emcee In A Sentence
Mc and emcee are typically synonyms with various meanings. Here are some tips for using these words in sentences:
How To Use The Word Mc
Use this word as a noun in a sentence to refer to the following:
- A millicurie
- The millionth period per second
- Member of congress
- Master of ceremonies
- A rapper
Use it as a verb in a sentence to refer to:
- The act of performing a rap
- To perform as a master of ceremonies of an event
Since this word is primarily an abbreviation, you cannot use it blindly in a sentence. Here are some practical tips you should apply:
When To Use The Word Emcee
Only use it in a sentence where the implied meaning is clear. For example, “The Mc arrived ten minutes late.” This sentence does not have a clear meaning. According to the context, the word mc may refer to a master of ceremonies, rapper, or cabinet member. In contrast, “The Mc will invite the next guest speaker after a short break.” In this sentence, the meaning is more precise because of the subject. The Mc here is the master of ceremonies, whose responsibility is introducing speakers at an event.
You can add periods to this abbreviation to clarify the context. For instance, when referring to a master of ceremonies, you can use MC instead of Mc. On the other hand, when referring to a millicurie, use mc. This will help you differentiate the subject and the application contexts.
If you cannot creatively construct a sentence where the meaning is clear, then instead of the abbreviation, use the whole words. That is master of ceremonies, rapper, member of cabinet, or millicurie.
How To Use The Word Emcee
Use this word as a noun in a sentence when referring to the following:
- A person that hosts formal occasions and performs duties like making the introductory speech, inviting other speakers, and introducing performances.
- A rapper
- A host at a club or party
Use this word as a verb when referring to:
- Acting as a master of ceremonies (For example, Jane will emcee the event tomorrow)
- Performing a rap portion of a hip-hop performance. (For instance, Nicki emceed the rap flawlessly)
- Performing as an Mc at a club or party. (For example, The twins will emcee their brother’s wedding reception)
When To Use The Word Emcee
Use this word if you do not want to write wordy sentences. For example, John was the master of ceremonies at the wedding reception. This example is unnecessarily long. Instead, write, “John was the emcee at the wedding reception.
Use the term to clarify the type of mc you are talking about. For instance, when you use emcee, it automatically eliminates other definitions.
Note: Emcee and mc are countable nouns. Therefore, their plural forms are emcees and MCs (use capital letters for the plural form). In contrast, they are also verbs. So, when using them as such, apply their past tenses. The past tense of emcee is emceed.
Mc Vs Emcee: How Are These Words Different?
Mc and emcee have a lot in common. For instance, they have the same pronunciation and are partially synonyms. However, they also have some differences, apart from their spelling. Here are a few:
Origin
The abbreviation Mc was first used in 1790 as “Master of Ceremonies.” The noun phrase “master of ceremonies” was introduced to the English dictionary in the 1660s. In contrast, the word emcee was coined in 1933 from the pronunciation of mc. It was formally added to the English dictionary in 1938.
Usage And Popularity
The word MC is more prevalent in the UK than in the US. In contrast, emcee is more common in the US. This can be attributed to their origins. MC was first used in the UK, while the first recorded use of the word emcee was in the United States.
Definitions
While these words share some definitions, the word MC has more meanings that do not apply to emcees. For this reason, linguists came up with “emcee” to clarify definitions.
List Of Examples Of Mc And Emcee Use In Sentences
Mc and emcee are both correct words ranked in English dictionaries. Here are examples of how you can use them in sentences:
Example sentences with the word mc
- The Mc introduced the performer using the wrong name.
- Jill and Andrea hired a famous Mc for their wedding reception.
- George did such a fantastic job as the Mc at the club that the manager gave him a permanent position.
- The MC arrived at the event two hours later than its intended start time.
- Kimberly quit her corporate job to work as a corporate Mc.
Example sentences of the word emcee
- Minaj is the first female emcee to get a number-one record after more than a decade in the business.
- The emcee brought the roof down at the party while performing classic rap songs.
- John hired a new emcee when the previous one failed to arrive on time.
- Luka is the most famous emcee in the city.
- The emcee visited the venue a day before the event for rehearsals.
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Conclusion
Both emcee and mc are correct spellings. They are short forms for the noun phrase master of ceremonies or a rapper. However, the abbreviation Mc has other unrelated meanings. You shouldn’t experience any confusion when using these words when you know that.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.