lest us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lest us" is not correct in written English.
The correct expression is "let us," which is used to make a suggestion or proposal. Example: "Let us consider the implications of this decision before moving forward."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They were at CES with a near-final version of said hardware, and despite some hiccups they encountered because of the massive amount of RF interference generated by a dense, wireless-happy tech show with 200,000 attendants, their wireless hardware still lest us impressed.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Because VERMIN refers to animals "which must be destroyed, lest they destroy us," to use the words of Dion and Rockman (1996: 9), it signifies elements harmful and threatening to human survival and well-being.

Lingua Sinica

A soldier gazes at us below the words: "LEST WE FORGET.

Vice

But it would at least reduce the injustice we know exists yet dare not stare too hard at, lest it defeat us with its intractability.

The Guardian

When they returned to their seats, they were told not to discuss anything with the rest of us (lest we try the same gambit, perhaps).

The New York Times

Dr. Hoos urged national decision makers to take such assessments "with a large measure of skepticism lest they lead us to regrettable, if not disastrous, conclusions".

The New York Times

But stars like Tom Hanks — princes of the democratic realm — are downright friendly; they don't want to lord it over us lest we knock them off their low-rise pedestal.

The New Yorker

Catch words and labels, such as the words 'protective tariff,' are subject to the dangers that lurk in metaphors an symbols, and must be watched with circumspection lest they put us off our guard.

Cornell University

Here is where "Nimona" strikes hardest at stories like the Dark Phoenix saga that recycle the cliché of a woman with terrible powers who has to be conquered at all costs, lest she destroy us all.

The New York Times - Books

And lest those of us from America and other technologically advanced countries become too smug in believing that we are liberated from the peculiar notions identified in the article, we need to recognize that many girls here grow up either uninformed or misinformed about the menstrual cycle and feel the same kind of shame or embarrassment about their periods.

The New York Times

She reminds us, lest we forget, how much of the pleasure of reading history is really just ferreting out the choice talk of the day -- the rumor, for example, that Charles VIII had six toes on each of his misshapen feet or that the painting of a Madonna over a pope's bedroom door was actually a portrait of his mistress.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey a sense of precaution or prevention, avoid using "lest us". Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "lest we" or "so that we don't".

Common error

A common mistake is to confuse "lest" with "let". Remember that "lest" always implies a sense of prevention or avoiding a negative outcome, while "let" means to allow or permit. Ensure you use the correct word based on your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lest us" functions as an incorrect conjunctional phrase attempting to express a precautionary measure. As noted by Ludwig AI, the correct form is "lest we". The intended function is to introduce a clause expressing a reason for doing something, in order to prevent an undesirable outcome.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lest us" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the correct form is typically "lest we" or other alternative phrasings to express precaution. While "lest" itself carries a formal tone, the incorrect usage undermines its effectiveness in professional writing. Though examples can be found, relying on grammatically sound alternatives ensures clear and correct communication. Therefore, when aiming for precision and formality, it's best to avoid "lest us" and opt for established grammatical structures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lest we

Changes the pronoun to 'we' implying a collective action or avoidance.

for fear that we

Emphasizes the fear of a potential negative consequence.

to prevent us from

Directly states the intention to prevent a specific action or outcome.

in order that we not

A more formal and explicit way to express the intended purpose of prevention.

that we might not

A more literary phrasing expressing a desire to prevent something.

so that we don't

A simpler, more common way to express the intention to avoid something.

to avoid us

A shorter and more direct way of expressing avoidance.

so as not to let us

Indicates the intention to avoid a certain situation for someone.

before we

Expresses a temporal sequence with an implied sense of precaution.

otherwise we

Highlights an alternative action to prevent a negative outcome.

FAQs

How should I correctly use the word "lest"?

The word "lest" is a conjunction that means "in order that... not" or "for fear that". A correct usage would be "Take care "lest you fall"".

What does "lest we forget" mean?

"Lest we forget" is a phrase used to express the importance of remembering a past event, typically a tragic one, so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. It is often used in memorial contexts.

Is "lest I forget" grammatically correct?

Yes, "lest I forget" is grammatically correct. It means "in order that I do not forget" or "for fear that I might forget". For example, "I'll write it down "lest I forget"".

What are some alternatives to using "lest" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "in order that... not", "for fear that", "so that... won't", or "to prevent". For example, instead of "He ran "lest he be late"", you could say "He ran so that he wouldn't be late".