for god sakes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for god sakes" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "for God's sake" or "for goodness' sake." You can use it to express frustration, exasperation, or urgency in a situation.
Example: "For God's sake, can we please just agree on a plan already?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

It's the oscRs for god sakes!

The Guardian - Film

It's an intercontinental ballistic missile, for God sakes.

The New York Times

"For God sakes, they're moving Jesus to Memphis".

The New York Times

For God sakes, shut up and send us somebody".

The New York Times

You can't even hold up your own head, for God sakes!

The New York Times - Books

"You act like we bury [vinyl] in tunnels in Vietnam for God sakes," he continued.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

She tweeted, "For god sake Paul McMullen, shut your sickening trap".

The New Yorker

Its only one 2 hour show a year for god sake.

BBC

For god sake, we all need money.

BMC Family Practice

And for god sake whatever you do…don't wear your sunglasses at night!!!

WikiHow

Even Romney tied his dog to the roof of a car, for gods sake.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct possessive form "god's sake" instead of "god sakes". This ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Common error

Failing to include the apostrophe in "god's sake" is a common error. Remember that "god's" indicates possession (sake of God) and is crucial for grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for god sakes" functions as an interjection or exclamation, expressing strong emotions such as frustration, exasperation, or urgency. While Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, it's important to note the grammatical inaccuracy.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

13%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "for god sakes" is used to express frustration or urgency, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "for god's sake". Ludwig's AI identifies its usage across News & Media and Science, although primarily in informal settings. For formal contexts, it is advisable to use alternatives like "for goodness' sake" or "for heaven's sake" to ensure grammatical accuracy and avoid potential offense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for god's sake

Corrects the grammatical error by including the possessive apostrophe.

for goodness' sake

Replaces the reference to deity with a more general expression of exasperation.

for heaven's sake

Substitutes "god" with "heaven", offering a slightly milder tone.

for crying out loud

Replaces the religious reference with a more colloquial expression of annoyance.

good grief

Provides a simple and mild expression of dismay.

come on

Offers a more direct and less verbose expression of impatience or disbelief.

seriously

Emphasizes disbelief or challenges the validity of a statement or situation.

really

Similar to "seriously", but can also indicate surprise or mild skepticism.

are you kidding me

Expresses disbelief or frustration in response to an undesirable situation.

what on earth

Expresses surprise, confusion, or frustration about a situation or event.

FAQs

Is "for god sakes" grammatically correct?

No, "for god sakes" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "for god's sake", which includes the possessive apostrophe indicating that it is 'for the sake of God'.

What's a less religious alternative to "for god's sake"?

You can use phrases like "for goodness' sake" or "for heaven's sake" to express similar frustration or exasperation without the religious connotation.

When is it appropriate to use "for god's sake"?

It's appropriate to use "for god's sake" when you want to express strong emotion, such as frustration, impatience, or desperation. However, be mindful of your audience and the context, as it may be considered offensive by some.

Are there any informal alternatives to "for god's sake"?

Yes, you can use more informal phrases like "for crying out loud" or simply "come on" to convey similar emotions in a casual setting.