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Liza
"Don't let's" or "Let's not"?
What construction is better? A couple examples:
Don't let's talk of it. / Let's not talk of it.
Don't let's go to the party. / Let's not go to the party.
Thanks)
Mar 13, 2011 5:26 PM
Answers · 9
"Let's not" is correct.
"Don't let's" can still be heard though.
March 14, 2011
"Don't let's" is theoretically correct in English and I can think of it being in use until the 1940s or 1950s but it is definitely dated now. It is not used except in English regional dialects (some Yorkshire or Lancashire branches of the language would use it, but then again they use 'thou' as well) and in comedy or sardonic speech. In fact since 'let's' has come to convey quite a positive, pro-active emotion nowadays "don't let's" almost sounds like an apposition.
Use "let's not" in all common speech! :) Let's not get confused ;)
March 13, 2011
Let's not :)
March 13, 2011
let's not is correct.
let's not talk about it now.
let's not go to the party.
March 13, 2011
"Let's not..." is grammatically correct both in American and British English. Some people say "Let's don't..." in American English and "Don't let's..." in British English.
"Let's not..." is correct. :)
March 14, 2011
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Liza
Language Skills
English, Russian
Learning Language
English
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