The English Pedant Strikes Again

[azurelunatic]

Let's. Not lets, but let's. Let's go to the movies! It is a contraction of let us. The phrase "Why don't we" can be substituted for the contraction let's if the writer is in doubt.

Let's not confuse 'let's' with 'lets', as in, "My landlady lets us this apartment." This word is not seen much in American writing.


(Note to self: 'not seen much in American speech' is... um... right. )

Comments

[boojum.livejournal.com]

"lets" is used to mean "allows", so it's not a complete British-ism.