What's the Difference Between 'Let's' and 'Lets'?

In this blog post we look at when to use let's and when to use lets.

'Let's' or 'Lets'?

Let's and lets are two words that are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings and uses. They cannot be used interchangeably as they have distinct meanings and are used in different contexts.

The word "let's" is a contraction of "let us" and it is used as a way to make suggestions or invitations. It is a way of inviting someone to do something together.

For example, "Let's go out for dinner tonight" means "I suggest that we go out for dinner tonight." It's a way of inviting someone to join in an activity.

This word is often used in informal or casual conversations, and it's a way of expressing that you want to do something together.

On the other hand, "lets" is the third person form of the verb "let" which means "to allow or permit."

It's used to indicate that someone or something is allowing or permitting something to happen.

For example, "This policy lets employees take a certain number of days off each year" means "this policy allows employees to take a certain number of days off each year."

It's worth mentioning that the word "lets" is sometimes used mistakenly in place of "let's" since the apostrophe is forgotten. This could lead to confusion and miscommunication.

In conclusion, it's important to know the difference in meaning between "let's" and "lets" as they cannot be used interchangeably.

"Let's" is used as a way to make suggestions or invitations, while "lets" is the third person form of the verb "let" which means "to allow or permit."

  • "Let's go for a walk in the park" means "I suggest that we go for a walk in the park" or "I want to go for a walk in the park with you"

  • "This new policy lets employees work from home" means "This new policy allows employees to work from home"

  • "Let's meet up later" means "I want to meet you later"

  • "The landlord lets the tenants have pets" means "The landlord allows the tenants to have pets"

  • "Let's grab a drink after work" means "I suggest we grab a drink after work"

  • "The company lets its employees have flexible hours" means "The company allows its employees to have flexible hours"

As you can see, "let's" is used to make suggestions or invitations, while "lets" is used to indicate that someone or something is allowing or permitting something to happen.

Examples of Let's in a Sentence

  1. Let's go for a walk.

  2. Let's plan a surprise party.

  3. Let's meet at the park.

  4. Let's try that new restaurant.

  5. Let's make cookies.

  6. Let's watch a movie tonight.

  7. Let's start a book club.

  8. Let's go on a road trip.

  9. Let's play a game.

  10. Let's volunteer at the shelter.

Examples of Lets in a Sentence

  1. The company lets its employees work from home.

  2. The landlord lets the tenants have pets.

  3. The teacher lets the students use their phones in class.

  4. The store lets customers return items within 30 days.

  5. The park lets visitors bring their own food.

  6. The concert venue lets attendees bring chairs.

  7. The school lets students wear casual clothes on Fridays.

  8. The library lets patrons borrow up to 10 books at a time.

  9. The organization lets members vote on important decisions.

  10. The government lets citizens practice their own religion.


Let's or Lets
Let's or Lets