for safety's sake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for safety's sake" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to express the idea that something should or must be done to ensure safety or avoid risk. For example, you could say: "We should wear seatbelts for safety's sake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then it's for safety's sake.

Huffington Post

Apparently it's "currently waiting on final UL Approval," which is a good thing for safety's sake.

TechCrunch

"Never mind for safety's sake.

The New Yorker

For safety's sake, blitzing was prohibited.

The New York Times - Sports

For safety's sake, he'll bless a little ignorance.

The New York Times

For safety's sake, the family should go immediately.

The Economist

We gotta send him to Bellevue just for safety's sake".

The New Yorker

We've gotta take him to Bellevue for safety's sake..."....

The New Yorker

Dell tries to have at least two sources for every component, if only for safety's sake.

The Economist

For safety's sake, drivers now avoid the rest stops and picnic areas along the route.

The New York Times

For safety's sake, clear the pool of guests; [phone] or calpump.com.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for safety's sake", ensure the action being taken is directly related to improving safety or reducing potential harm. For example, "For safety's sake, wear a helmet while cycling."

Common error

Avoid using "for safety's sake" when the action has little to no impact on actual safety. For example, avoid saying "For safety's sake, let's use blue paint," unless the color of the paint has a demonstrable effect on safety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for safety's sake" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose. It modifies a verb by explaining the reason or intention behind an action, indicating that the action is being taken to ensure safety. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Unknown

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for safety's sake" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that serves as an adverbial phrase of purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, it conveys the intention behind an action, emphasizing that the action is taken to guarantee safety or minimize risks. Its presence is particularly notable in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. When using this phrase, it's best to ensure that the connected action directly enhances safety and avoid applying it to situations where the safety impact is negligible. Alternatives like "to ensure safety" or "as a precaution" can be employed to convey similar meanings with slight variations in tone. Always prioritize the possessive form, "safety's", as it is the accepted standard.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for the sake of safety

Reorders the words but retains the original meaning.

to ensure safety

Focuses on the action of ensuring safety, omitting the 'sake' component.

for security reasons

Emphasizes security as the reason for taking action, which is closely related to safety.

as a precaution

Highlights the preventative nature of the action taken for safety.

to play it safe

Uses a more colloquial expression for avoiding risks.

for preventative measures

More formal and emphasizes proactive steps to avoid danger.

with safety in mind

Highlights that safety is a guiding principle.

for protective purposes

More formal and focuses on the intention to protect.

to minimize risk

Focuses on reducing the likelihood of harm.

to avoid danger

Directly states the intention to steer clear of hazardous situations.

FAQs

How can I use "for safety's sake" in a sentence?

You can use "for safety's sake" to justify a precautionary measure. For example, "For safety's sake, all hazardous materials should be stored properly".

What are some alternatives to saying "for safety's sake"?

Alternatives include phrases like "to ensure safety", "as a precaution", or "for security reasons", depending on the context.

Is "for safety sake" grammatically correct?

While "for safety sake" might be understood, the correct and more common form is "for safety's sake", using the possessive form.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "for safety's sake"?

It is appropriate to use "for safety's sake" when you want to emphasize that a particular action or decision is being made to prioritize safety and avoid potential risks or hazards.