Lets vs Let’s | Difference, Definitions & Examples
Lets and let’s are both derived from the verb “let,” which can be used to mean “allow or permit” or to introduce a request or suggestion. While “lets” is the third-person singular form of this verb (e.g., “I hope she lets you go”), “let’s” is a contraction that stands for “let us” (e.g., “Let’s go to the park”).
Many people get these words confused because they are homophones, meaning they have the same pronunciation but different meanings.
| Examples: Lets in a sentence | Examples: Let’s in a sentence |
|---|---|
| My dad lets me play video games once I’m done with my chores. | Let’s hope that we can get out of class early. |
| She lets her younger sister help her garden because she knows it soothes her. | Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. |
| Suzie lets Daniel leave early on Thursdays so he can visit his grandmother. | I could be wrong, so let’s double-check the results before publishing them. |
Table of contents
Lets
“Lets” is the third-person singular form of the verb “let,” which can mean “to give permission” or “to release” and can also be used to mean “to facilitate or enable an action.”
“Lets” must always be preceded by a singular noun (e.g., “Dave lets”); a third-person singular pronoun (e.g., “she lets,” “he lets,” or “it lets”); or by the demonstrative pronouns “this” or “that” (e.g., “this lets me”).
Joanna lets her birds out of the cage every morning.
My new camera is so cool. It lets me take high-definition videos and pictures.
Let’s
“Let’s” is a contraction that means “let us.” Here, the base word “let” is used to make a request or recommendation or to give instructions (e.g., “let’s make a left”).
Because contractions are considered informal, “let’s” is typically used in casual speech or writing. Conversely, “let us” is considered extremely formal and is typically only used in archaic or religious contexts (e.g., “Let us pray”). In professional or academic contexts, sentences are often rephrased to avoid “let’s” (e.g., “I recommend that we hire a new director”).
“Let’s” is typically followed by the base form of a verb (e.g., “let’s dance”).
I know you’re upset, but let’s pause and take a breath.
Let’s weigh all our options before we make a decision.
You can ensure you’re using the right word by replacing “let’s” with “let us.” If the sentence makes sense, then “let’s” is indeed the correct choice. If it doesn’t make sense, use “lets.”
- Let’s check out the new equipment.
- Let us check out the new equipment.
- She let’s her cats roam outside sometimes.
- She let us her cats roam outside sometimes.
- She lets her cats roam outside sometimes.
Frequently asked questions about lets and let's
- Is it lets go or let’s go?
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The correct phrase depends on the context of the sentence.
When rooting for a team, the correct phrase is “let’s go.” “Let’s” is a contraction of “let us.” Saying “let’s go, team” means you’re cheering them on as a fan or as part of the team. “Let’s go” can also be used to express impatience with someone (e.g., “Let’s go! We don’t have all day”) or, in a more literal sense, to suggest that you and at least one other person depart (e.g., “Let’s go home”).
“Lets go” only makes sense when you’re using “lets” as the third-person singular present tense form of the verb phrase “let go,” meaning “release” (e.g., “She always lets go of the rope too soon”).
The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences to express your meaning clearly.
- What is a synonym for let go?
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A few synonyms for “let go” include:
- Free
- Release
- Unleash
- Unloose
QuillBot can help you quickly and easily rewrite sentences.
