let em (me) know

Speakers and writers sometimes drop or mistype pronouns in quick messages. A common slip is using let 'em (short for them) when you mean let me. That swap changes who should receive the information and can create confusion-especially in work or school messages.

Below are clear rules, quick checks, and many context-specific rewrites so you can spot the mix-up and fix sentences immediately.

Quick answer

"Let 'em know" means "let them know." If you want someone to inform you, use "let me know."

'Em is a colloquial contraction of them, not me.
Use let me know when you want to be the recipient of information.
In formal writing avoid 'em entirely and spell out the pronoun (me/them/him/her).

Core explanation: who does 'em refer to?

'Em is an informal contraction of them (third person plural). Me is the first-person object pronoun. So "Let 'em know" asks someone to tell other people; "Let me know" asks someone to tell you.

Swapping them and me changes the sentence's recipient and can alter responsibilities or expectations in messages.

'em = them (third person plural)
me = the speaker (first person singular)

Grammar: object pronouns and case

Object pronouns receive the action: me, you, him, her, us, them. In let X know, X is the object: Let me know, Let them know.

Pattern to remember: subject + verb + object. If you want the speaker to receive the information, use me; if you want others informed, use them (or 'em in speech).

Example: She told me. (me = object)
Let + object + know → Let me know / Let them know

Real usage and tone: when 'em is acceptable and when it isn't

'Em is common in speech, group chat, and casual posts; it signals an informal tone. That tone can be fine with friends but often looks unprofessional in workplace or academic messages.

When clarity or formality matters, use full pronouns: let me know or let them know.

Casual: OK with friends or informal chat.
Work/School: avoid 'em in formal emails, reports, or messages to instructors.

Examples: wrong/right pairs across contexts

Concrete pairs below show realistic slips and correct rewrites. Many fixes simply swap the pronoun; some also clarify the recipient or tone.

Wrong: Let em know you'll attend the client call.Work -
Right: Let me know whether you'll attend the client call.
Wrong: Can you let em know if the budget is approved?Work -
Right: Can you let me know if the budget is approved?
Wrong: If the professor updates the rubric, let em know.School -
Right: If the professor updates the rubric, let me know.
Wrong: Let em know the homework is due tomorrow.School -
Right: Let me know if the homework is due tomorrow.
Wrong: Hey, let em know if we're still meeting later.Casual -
Right: Hey, let me know if we're still meeting later.
Wrong: Text Gina: let em know I'll be at the party.Casual -
Right: Text Gina: let her know I'll be at the party.
Wrong: Let em know my decision by Friday.Work -
Right: Let me know your decision by Friday.
Rewrite:
Original: "Let em know if anything changes." → Fix: "Please let me know if anything changes."
Rewrite:
Original: "Let em know about the meeting at 3" → Fix: "Please tell the team about the 3 PM meeting."
Rewrite:
Original: "Let em know I'm not coming" → Fix: "Can you let me know if you'll be there?" (clarifies intended recipient)

Help fixing your own sentence: a quick checklist

Use this three-step check whenever you see let 'em or let em:

Who should receive the information? (You or other people?)
If it's you, use me; if it's others, use them/him/her.
For formal writing, spell out the pronoun (let me know / let them know).

If you still doubt the recipient, name them: "Let John/the team/me know" removes ambiguity.

Fix example: Problem: "Let em know about my schedule." → Fix: "Tell the team about my schedule." or "Let me know about your schedule."

Memory trick: an easy way to remember which pronoun to use

Think "Me = me." If you are the one who should get the message, use me. If the message should go to other people, think them-and only use 'em as a casual contraction of them.

Quick test: substitute a name. If "Let Sarah know" makes sense, the correct pronoun is her/them, not me.

Swap with a name: Let Sarah know → use her/them, not me (unless you are Sarah).

Similar mistakes to watch for

Other casual forms cause the same problems: tell 'em vs tell me, send 'em vs send me, or writing lemme in formal contexts. Each changes meaning or tone.

Mistake: "Tell em I'll be late." → Correct (if you mean them): "Tell them I'll be late."
Mistake: "Lemme know" is fine in speech but too casual for a professor or manager.
Mistake: Using 'em when you actually mean him or her-be specific when possible.

Wrong: Lemme know if you have questions. (too casual for a manager or professor)Work -
Right: Please let me know if you have any questions.

Punctuation and forms: apostrophes, spacing, and 'em

If you use the contraction, write it with an apostrophe: 'em (short for them). Writing em without an apostrophe looks like a typo in formal writing.

Correct spacing: put the apostrophe immediately before em (let 'em). Avoid fused forms like 'let'em' or leaving out the apostrophe in formal text. When clarity matters, prefer full pronouns.

Correct: let 'em know (apostrophe replaces the missing th-)
Avoid: let em know (looks unedited) and 'let'em' (incorrectly fused)
Formal preference: let them know / let me know

FAQ

Is "let 'em" grammatically correct?

"Let 'em" is an informal contraction of "let them" and is fine in casual speech or dialogue. It's not correct if you mean "let me." In formal writing, spell out the pronoun.

Can I write "let 'em know" in an email to my boss?

No. In professional emails avoid "let 'em." Use "please let me know" or "please let the team know," depending on who should receive the information.

What does "let 'em know" mean in texting?

In texting, "let 'em know" means "let them know." People use it for speed or an informal tone, but it can be ambiguous without context.

How do I fix a sentence that currently says "let em" but I meant myself?

Replace "let em" with "let me." If the sentence still feels unclear, name the recipient (e.g., "let me know" or "tell the team"). Follow the three-step checklist: identify recipient, choose the right pronoun, rewrite.

Is "lemme" the same as "let me" or "let 'em"?

"Lemme" is an informal spelling of "let me" in fast speech. It is not the same as "let 'em" (let them). Avoid "lemme" in formal writing; use "let me" for clarity and professionalism.

Want to be sure your sentence is correct?

Replace the pronoun with a name ("Let Sarah know"). If that matches your meaning, use a third-person pronoun; if not, use me. For a final check, paste the sentence into a grammar or style checker to catch mistaken pronouns before you send an email or submit a paper.