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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'



 
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #1 (permalink) Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:05 pm   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Hi

Could you please tell me if the following sentences are same?

1- Don't let's discuss it.
2- Let's not discuss it.


Tom
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #2 (permalink) Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:16 pm   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

I think, Tom, that in your first sentence you ask someone not to let you all discuss that (something like a command)while in your second sentence you give an idea, offer to anyone(all of you) not discussing that :wink:
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #3 (permalink) Sat Oct 21, 2006 14:50 pm   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Hi Tom

The sentences are synonymous to me. Sentence 2 sounds somewhat more formal, though.

But you left out the third possibility:

3- Let's don't discuss it. :D

Amy
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Don't let's, let's don't #4 (permalink) Sat Oct 21, 2006 21:04 pm   Don't let's, let's don't
 

I think that "Don't let's discuss it." and "Let's don't discuss it." are both awful sentences; at least they sound very bad to me.

I would say "Don't let us discuss it." and "Let's not discuss it." respectively instead of the above.

I think that I have never heard "let's" and "don't" used together but apparently some people do use them together.

Does anyone agree with me?
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #5 (permalink) Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:30 am   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

A lot of thanks to all of you!

Amy, do you use all these forms or do you also, like canadian45, do not approve of the following sentences?

1- Let's don't discuss it.
2- Don't let's discuss it.


Tom
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #6 (permalink) Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:36 am   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Hi Tom (respects to Amy),

Don't like 'Let's don't discuss it'. To my old ear it sounds dead wonky!

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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #7 (permalink) Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:44 am   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Alan wrote:
dead wonky!


Thanks a lot, Alan.

Your innovative use of phrases has 'rubbed off onto me' to the extent where I am forced to carry the the following series with me all the time. Recently bought it! :wink:

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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #8 (permalink) Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:19 pm   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Alan wrote:
Hi Tom (respects to Amy),

Don't like 'Let's don't discuss it'. To my old ear it sounds dead wonky!

A

Hi Alan

"Let's don't..." sounds a little wonky to me, too, but no more so than "Don't let's..." :lol:

@Tom
My personal preference would usually be "Let's not..."

http://www.bartleby.com/68/26/3626.html

Amy
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #9 (permalink) Sun Oct 10, 2010 5:01 am   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

"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 to mean "Let's not..." Am I correct?
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #10 (permalink) Sun Oct 10, 2010 11:36 am   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Like Alan, I've heard 'don't let's...' (though wouldn't use it).
I can't speak for AmEng - but Yankee can!
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #11 (permalink) Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:05 pm   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Thank you, B.
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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #12 (permalink) Sun Oct 10, 2010 15:21 pm   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Hi Tofu,

Since Yankee is no longer permitted to speak as Yankee, I'll speak for her. ;-)

Don't let's sounds unusual to me, and Yankee's comment to Tom about Let's don't was just a friendly joke to Tom. I personally never use either one of those -- and neither does Yankee. lol

Let's not is what I would expect people here in North America to use.

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'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it' #13 (permalink) Sun Oct 10, 2010 15:27 pm   'Don't let's discuss it' versus 'Let's not discuss it'
 

Thank you, Amy.
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