“Let’s” or “Lets”? The Apostrophe That Changes the Whole Meaning
These two look almost identical, but they’re not interchangeable. Let’s (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of let us and introduces a suggestion — Let’s go. Lets (no apostrophe) is the verb meaning allows — She lets me drive. Pick the wrong one and the sentence still passes a basic spellcheck, because both are real words. A real-time checker like TypoGuard reads the context and flags the mix-up the moment it happens.
What “Let’s” Actually Means
Let’s is short for let us. The apostrophe stands in for the missing “u” — exactly the way don’t replaces the “o” in do not. You use it to suggest, invite, or rally:
- My boss lets us leave early on Fridays.
- This setting lets you turn off notifications.
- Dad lets the dog sleep inside.
A foolproof test: try swapping in let us. If the sentence still makes sense, the apostrophe belongs there. “Let us grab lunch” works, so “Let’s grab lunch” is correct.
What “Lets” Means
Lets is the third-person singular of the verb to let — meaning to allow or permit. It follows a subject like he, she, it, or a name:
My boss lets us leave early on Fridays.
This setting lets you turn off notifications.
Dad lets the dog sleep inside.
Here the “let us” swap fails — “My boss let us us leave early” is nonsense — which tells you no apostrophe is needed.
The One-Second Test That Never Fails
According to the Britannica Dictionary, let’s simply means let us — so that’s your whole test. Mentally expand the word to “let us”: if it fits, write let’s; if it doesn’t, write lets. No grammar knowledge required.
Why This One Trips People Up
Let’s and lets sound exactly the same out loud — they’re homophones — so your ear gives you no warning. The only visible difference is one tiny apostrophe, which is easy to drop when you’re typing fast. And because lets is a perfectly valid word on its own, spellcheckers stay silent even when you’ve used the wrong one in the wrong place.
Examples in Context
- ✅ “Let’s start the meeting.” (let us start)
- ❌ “Lets start the meeting.”
- ✅ “The app lets you schedule posts.” (it allows)
- ❌ “The app let’s you schedule posts.”
Catch It Before You Hit Send
Apostrophe slips like this are the hardest to catch by eye, because nothing looks misspelled — the word is just wrong for the sentence. TypoGuard’s free grammar checker reads what you actually mean and fixes let’s vs lets in real time across Gmail, docs, and chat, so the right form is in place before anyone else sees it.
Want to stop overthinking one little apostrophe? Install TypoGuard for free and let it decide for you.
