Sound and Sense, 2-36

Time for more instances of the homophone: a word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not, as heir and air.

1. let’s (verb phrase): let us

2. lets (verb): 3^rd person singular of let—to cause to; to free from; to make an adjustment (and many other meanings and shades of meanings)

Let’s get this straight. About poor let.

You add an –s … what do you get?

Mistakes by Dan, Duane, Jeanette.

That sneaky hooked apostrophe

Slips in, confusing you and me,

Spawns Internet antipathy.

And so it goes in Usage Land,

Where all mistakes are harshly banned—

There’s far too much to understand!

So let’s let up on this disdain

That lets us sneer at Dick and Jane—

I think it’s just a wee bit vain!