Don't let's fight

[Untaught88]

Hi,

Let's not fight.
Is "Don't let's fight" common in BrE?

 

[Roman55]

I don't know if it's common, but it isn't grammatical.

 

[Raymott]

I don't know if it's common, but it isn't grammatical.

Hmm, are you sure? I think "Oh, do let's ..." and "Don't let's ..." sound quite normal.
What's wrong with them?

 

[PaulMatthews]

Hi,

Let's not fight.
Is "Don't let's fight" common in BrE?

Yes, it's quite common. There is no semantic difference between the two. Both would be used to propose/suggest that we do not fight: the difference is simply stylistic, with "Don't let's fight" being a tad more informal than "Let's not fight".

 

[Roman55]

Hmm, are you sure? I think "Oh, do let's ..." and "Don't let's ..." sound quite normal.
What's wrong with them?

Each to his own.

The question was, 'Is it common?' I said I don't know, because I never say it, and nobody I frequent ever says it. That doesn't mean there aren't millions of BrE speakers who do, but I am not aware of them.

As for its grammatical correctness, I am just a lay practitioner of the language, but my view isn't an isolated one. Look at this old thread, for example.

 

[PaulMatthews]

Each to his own.

The question was, 'Is it common?' I said I don't know, because I never say it, and nobody I frequent ever says it. That doesn't mean there aren't millions of BrE speakers who do, but I am not aware of them.

As for its grammatical correctness, I am just a lay practitioner of the language, but my view isn't an isolated one. Look at this old thread, for example.

I can 100% assure you that "Don't let's fight" is grammatical. The OP asked if it's common in BrE and it is, though I don't know off hand how it compares usage-wise with "Let's not fight". Nothing to make a fuss about.

 

[jutfrank]

Don't let's fight about how common it isn't. ;-)

 

[GoesStation]

When this thread appeared, I immediately thought of don't let's fight as a typically British phrase. I have a feeling I got that association from having read the Narnia books of C.S. Lewis. I don't know whether the usage is less common than it was when Lewis was writing or, indeed, whether it was common then. I'm pretty sure I've heard a lady I know whose family immigrated from England in the late fifties say it.

 

[Tdol]

CS Lewis does use it:

Whatever we do, don't let's have any running. Especially not before supper; and not too soon after it neither. (Prince Caspian)

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1177291-whatever-we-do-don-t-let-s-have-any-running-especially-not

 

[SoothingDave]

It's certainly an odd choice of words from my perspective over here. But, it's certainly understandable. Seems a bit whimsical.

Of course "do let's..." seems just as odd.

 

[Tdol]

It's certainly an odd choice of words from my perspective over here. But, it's certainly understandable. Seems a bit whimsical.

Of course "do let's..." seems just as odd.

I wouldn't use it in BrE, but I have heard it often enough.