'Let's not...' or 'Don't let us...'?
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tedtmc
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Because it's not, we just don't commonly say that.
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What a nice question! I've been wondering about 'let's not" and "don't let's" too.
M. Swan writes: "Negatives are let us not / do not let us (formal); let's not / don't let's (informal).
Do not let us forget those who came before us (formal)
Don't let's stay up too late tonight (informal)
:-?
M. Swan writes: "Negatives are let us not / do not let us (formal); let's not / don't let's (informal).
Do not let us forget those who came before us (formal)
Don't let's stay up too late tonight (informal)
:-?
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I remember once I read that was/is one of the differences between the AmE and BrE. Well now I'm convinced, because when the native speakers don't think so, then it is not SO! Ta! 
Mehrgan
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No I don't! 'Don't let's...' was said to be more common in BrE, which is not the case as we see in this page.
Mehrgan
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Dear tedtmc, I'm sure I read it was the common form in BrE, but language is what its speaker say, not what written in some texts. Apparently it could be used, but it's not as that common as we think. ;-)
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"Let's not" and "Don't let's" can be used interchangeably when you're suggesting something that (in your opinion) you and someone else shouldn't do.
Tell you what, let's not go to the cinema tonight.
Tell you what, don't let's go to the cinema tonight.
Please, let's not have another argument tomorrrow.
Please, don't let's have another argument tomorrow.
In those cases, they're the same but I would say that the first is MUCH more common. I rarely hear the second version and I don't think I use it as a matter of course.
"Don't let us..." as an imperative would be pretty common in various incarnations.
Pick us up at 3pm please. Don't let us wait too long.
Don't let us down. We really need you to do this.
Don't let us leave before the end. We have a nasty habit of doing that!
Tell you what, let's not go to the cinema tonight.
Tell you what, don't let's go to the cinema tonight.
Please, let's not have another argument tomorrrow.
Please, don't let's have another argument tomorrow.
In those cases, they're the same but I would say that the first is MUCH more common. I rarely hear the second version and I don't think I use it as a matter of course.
"Don't let us..." as an imperative would be pretty common in various incarnations.
Pick us up at 3pm please. Don't let us wait too long.
Don't let us down. We really need you to do this.
Don't let us leave before the end. We have a nasty habit of doing that!
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