Lets or Let’s: Which Is Correct? Difference, Meaning

“Lets” and “let’s” are commonly confused because they sound the same but have different meanings and grammatical functions. Lets is the third-person singular form of the verb “let,” usually meaning “allows” or “permits.” Let’s is a contraction of “let us,” commonly used to make a suggestion or propose doing something together.

Is It Lets or Let’s?

Both lets and let’s are correct, but the right choice depends on what you mean.

Use lets without an apostrophe when the word means allows, permits, or gives someone permission.

• The teacher lets us use calculators.
• My father lets me drive his car.
• This app lets users save their work.

Use let’s with an apostrophe when you mean let us, usually to make a suggestion or invitation.

• Let’s go home.
• Let’s study together.
• Let’s watch a movie tonight.

The apostrophe in let’s represents the missing letters in the contraction “let us.”

Lets or Let’s: Which Is Correct?

Neither spelling is always correct or incorrect. Lets is correct when it functions as a verb meaning “allows” or “permits,” while let’s is correct when it means “let us.”

Compare these two sentences:

She lets me use her laptop.

Here, lets means “allows.”

Let’s use her laptop.

Here, let’s means “let us,” expressing a suggestion.

A useful way to choose between them is to replace let’s with let us. If the sentence still makes sense, let’s is the correct form.

What Does Lets Mean?

Lets is the third-person singular present form of the verb let. In this use, it generally means allows, permits, or gives permission.

It is used with singular subjects such as he, she, it, or a singular noun.

Examples of Lets

• She lets her children play outside.
• He lets me borrow his books.
• The teacher lets students ask questions.
• My brother lets me use his computer.
• This feature lets you edit your photos.
• The manager lets employees leave early.

The basic structure is often:

Subject + lets + object + base verb

For example:

The coach lets the players rest.

Here, the coach allows the players to rest.

What Does Let’s Mean?

Let’s is a contraction of let us. In everyday English, it is commonly used to make suggestions, proposals, invitations, or encourage a group that includes the speaker to do something.

Examples of Let’s

• Let’s go to the park.
• Let’s have dinner.
• Let’s start the meeting.
• Let’s try again.
• Let’s finish this work today.
• Let’s take a break.

For example:

Let’s study for the test.

This means:

Let us study for the test.

In normal conversational English, “let’s” is much more natural than the full form “let us” when making an everyday suggestion.

What Is the Difference Between Lets and Let’s?

The main difference is their meaning and grammatical function.

Word	Meaning	Grammatical Function	Example
lets	allows or permits	Verb	She lets me stay.
let’s	let us	Contraction	Let’s stay here.

Lets describes what someone or something allows.

Let’s suggests an action that the speaker and others should do together.

Compare:

The teacher lets us leave early.

This means the teacher allows us to leave early.

Let’s leave early.

This means the speaker is suggesting that they leave early.

The apostrophe therefore changes the grammatical meaning of the word.

When Should You Use Lets?

Use lets when you can replace it with allows or permits.

For example:

The website lets users create free accounts.

You can replace “lets” with “allows”:

The website allows users to create free accounts.

Because the substitution works, lets is correct.

More examples:

• This key lets you open the door.
• My mother lets me choose my clothes.
• The program lets users change the settings.
• The school lets students bring their own laptops.
• The new system lets customers track their orders.

When Should You Use Let’s?

Use let’s when you mean let us and are suggesting that you and another person or group do something.

For example:

Let’s go shopping.

Expanded:

Let us go shopping.

Other examples include:

• Let’s begin.
• Let’s discuss the problem.
• Let’s check the answer.
• Let’s order pizza.
• Let’s meet tomorrow.
• Let’s find a solution.

Cambridge Dictionary notes that let’s is commonly used for suggestions that include the speaker.

Lets vs. Let’s Examples

The following examples show how the meaning changes depending on whether the apostrophe is used.

Example 1

She lets me use her phone.

Here, lets means “allows.”

Let’s use her phone.

Here, let’s means “let us,” expressing a suggestion.

Example 2

The software lets you save your files.

The software allows you to save files.

Let’s save the files.

The speaker is suggesting that they save the files.

Example 3

My teacher lets us leave early.

The teacher permits the students to leave early.

Let’s leave early.

The speaker suggests leaving early.

Example 4

This door lets in plenty of light.

Here, lets means allows something to enter.

Let’s go inside.

Here, let’s means “let us.”

Example 5

The app lets users change their passwords.

The app allows users to change their passwords.

Let’s change our passwords.

The speaker suggests that they change their passwords.

Is “Lets” Ever Correct Without an Apostrophe?

Yes. Lets without an apostrophe is completely correct when it is the third-person singular form of let.

For example:

• He lets his dog sleep indoors.
• She lets me know when she arrives.
• The website lets customers cancel orders.
• This feature lets you customize the page.

The apostrophe should not be added simply because the word sounds like “let’s.” The meaning determines which form is correct.

Is “Let’s” Always a Contraction?

In ordinary modern usage, let’s is the contraction of let us. It is especially common when making suggestions or proposals.

For example:

Let’s go home.

means:

Let us go home.

However, “let us” can also appear as a full, more formal expression, particularly in formal speeches, ceremonies, religious language, or other formal contexts.

Lets or Let’s: Easy Trick to Remember

A simple trick can help you choose the correct form.

Use “lets” if you can say “allows”

The teacher lets us leave.

The teacher allows us to leave.

Therefore, lets is correct.

Use “let’s” if you can say “let us”

Let’s go home.

Let us go home.

Therefore, let’s is correct.

Another quick rule is:

lets = allows

let’s = let us

Remembering these two substitutions will prevent most mistakes.

Common Mistakes With Lets and Let’s

One common mistake is adding an apostrophe to lets when it means “allows.”

Incorrect:

This app let’s you edit photos.

Correct:

This app lets you edit photos.

Another common mistake is leaving out the apostrophe when making a suggestion.

Incorrect:

Lets go to the park.

Correct:

Let’s go to the park.

The difference is small in writing but changes the grammatical function of the word.

Let’s Not or Lets Not?

When making a negative suggestion, use let’s not.

Correct:

Let’s not argue about this.

Correct:

Let’s not waste any time.

Correct:

Let’s not forget the meeting.

Here, let’s means “let us,” so the apostrophe is required. Cambridge Dictionary identifies let’s not as the more common negative form.

Lets vs. Let’s in a Sentence

The easiest way to understand the difference is to look at the role each word plays.

He lets me use his car.

Here, “lets” means “allows.”

Let’s use his car.

Here, “let’s” means “let us,” expressing a suggestion.

Therefore, the correct form depends entirely on the intended meaning rather than pronunciation.

Summary

Lets and let’s are both correct English words, but they have different meanings.

Lets is the third-person singular form of let and usually means allows or permits. For example, “The teacher lets us use calculators.”

Let’s is a contraction of let us and is commonly used to make a suggestion or invitation. For example, “Let’s study together.”

The easiest way to remember the difference is:

• lets = allows
• let’s = let us

If you can replace the word with allows, use lets. If you can replace it with let us, use let’s.

FAQs

Is “lets” or “let’s” correct?

Both are correct. Lets means “allows” or “permits,” while let’s is a contraction of “let us.”

Is “Let’s” short for “let us”?

Yes. Let’s is the contraction of let us.

Does “lets” need an apostrophe?

No. When lets means “allows” or “permits,” it does not take an apostrophe.

When should I use “let’s”?

Use let’s when making a suggestion or proposing that you and others do something together, such as “Let’s go home.”

When should I use “lets”?

Use lets when a person or thing allows or permits someone to do something, such as “She lets me borrow her car.”

What is the easiest way to remember lets vs. let’s?

Remember lets = allows and let’s = let us. You can test the sentence by replacing the word with one of these phrases.

Are “lets” and “let’s” pronounced the same?

Yes. In normal English pronunciation, they are generally pronounced the same, which is one reason they are frequently confused in writing.