Apostrophe in Idiomatic -ce and -ss Expressions
The Apostrophe
Rulebase Summary
When an idiomatic expression ends in ce or ss, the apostrophe is used without the s (for justice' sake, for appearance' sake, for goodness' sake). If the reporter hears an extra syllable, write what is spoken. Other sake expressions follow the usual possessive rules (for Pete's sake, for heaven's sake).
Examples
A. For goodness's sake, just answer the question.
A. For goodness' sake, just answer the question.
Idiomatic expressions ending in -ss use just the apostrophe — unless the speaker adds an extra syllable.
A. For Pete sake, that is not what I said.
A. For Pete's sake, that is not what I said.
Non -ce/-ss sake expressions follow the usual possessive rules — Pete's sake takes the apostrophe and s.
Transcript Notes
The court reporter may hear an extra syllable in some of these expressions because the speaker will not necessarily know or care about the rule. In that case, write what is spoken (justice's sake, appearance's sake).
Style Guide References (2)
Morson's
BGGP