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    Should the phrase "for goodness sake" have an apostrophe after the last 's' in goodness?

    Question #100982. Asked by crazycube. (Nov 14 08 8:51 AM)


    deepakmr

    		An apostrophe can be added in this case. However this is optional.

    http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-app2.htm

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe#Singular_nouns_ending_with_an_.22s.22_or_.22z.22_sound

    Nov 14 08, 9:07 AM
    zbeckabee

    		CAUTIONARY NOTE: The evidence suggests that the rules are slightly different in British and American English. In British English, we are ready to leave off both s and the apostrophe in these idiomatic phrases. This is regarded as not quite the thing in American English, where the presence of at least an apostrophe is usually required. Another way to handle the problem is to finesse it altogether by inverting your phrase, so saying it as for the sake of appearance, where the of is the marker for the possessive.

    Same link as above:

    http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-app2.htm

    Nov 14 08, 11:31 AM

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