let's go

USAGE SUMMARY

"Let's go" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when urging someone to take action to do something. For example, "OK, let's go and get the groceries!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" shouted Swain.

The Guardian

"Let's go for it.

University of California, Berkeley

"Let's go to Jersey".

The New York Times

"Let's go," she says.

The New Yorker

"Let's go, Tson-ga!

The New York Times

"Let's go see".

The New Yorker

"Let's go, Simon!

The New York Times - Sports

"Let's go for three".

The New York Times

"Let's go find out.

The New York Times - Sports

"Let's go to Sunday.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Let's go to Commons".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "let's go" to create a sense of urgency or encouragement, especially when initiating an activity or transition. For example: "The movie starts in five minutes, let's go!"

Common error

Avoid writing "lets go" without the apostrophe. "Let's" is a contraction of "let us", so omitting the apostrophe changes the meaning or renders the phrase grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let's go" primarily functions as a hortative, expressing encouragement or a suggestion for a shared action. It is a concise way to propose movement or the commencement of an activity, as shown in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

32%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "let's go" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to encourage action or suggest moving to another place. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, it maintains an informal register suitable for everyday conversation. Remember to use the apostrophe correctly to avoid grammatical errors, and consider alternative phrases like "come on" or "shall we go" for varying degrees of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Shall we go

This alternative presents a more formal and questioning tone, inviting agreement.

Come on

This option is a more direct and slightly more urgent way of encouraging action.

We should leave

Suggests a need to leave, often based on an implied reason or necessity.

Get going

This phrase is a simple and direct imperative to start moving or acting.

Time to leave

This phrase indicates that it is the appropriate moment to exit or move.

Let's move out

Often used in military or organized contexts to signal a start of movement.

Let us depart

This is a more formal and less common variant of suggesting departure.

Are we off

This interrogative phrase asks whether the group or individual is ready to begin a journey or task.

Ready to roll

Informal expression indicating readiness to start a journey or activity.

On our way

Implies readiness and current commencement of a journey or task.

FAQs

How do you use "let's go" in a sentence?

"Let's go" is used to suggest or encourage a group, including the speaker, to start an action or move to another place. For example, "Let's go to the park" or "Let's go get some ice cream".

What is the difference between "let's go" and "let us go"?

"Let's go" is a contraction of "let us go". While they have the same core meaning, "let's go" is more informal and commonly used in everyday speech. "Let us go" is more formal and might be used for emphasis or in specific literary contexts.

What can I say instead of "let's go"?

You can use alternatives like "come on", "shall we go", or "time to leave" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "let's go" appropriate for formal situations?

While "let's go" is generally acceptable, it is more suitable for informal settings. In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "shall we proceed" or "let us commence" to maintain a higher level of formality.