I still remember reading a formal email that started with “According to who wrote this report…” and thinking, “Wait, is that correct?”
That tiny confusion between who or whom can throw off anyone, whether you’re writing an essay, an email, or a report.
I’ve faced the same problem, and I know it can make your writing look unprofessional if used incorrectly.
People search for who or whom because it’s a common grammar puzzle. When should you use who, and when is whom correct?
How do you use it in a sentence? This article will clarify all your doubts, provide exercises, quizzes, examples, and even a checker method, so you’ll confidently use who or whom in every context.
Quick Answer
- Who ✅ → Subject of the clause (does the action)
- Whom ✅ → Object of the clause (receives the action)
Rule of thumb:
- Replace with he/she/they → use who
- Replace with him/her/them → use whom
Examples:
- Who called me last night? ✅
- Whom did you meet at the conference? ✅
- ❌ Who did you meet at the conference? ❌ (informal, but correct in casual English)
The Origin of Who and Whom
- Who → Old English hwā, used as the subject of a verb.
- Whom → Old English hwām, used as the object of a verb or preposition.
- Over time, whom became formal and is sometimes replaced by who in informal English.
British English vs American English Usage
| Feature | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Who | ✅ Used in subject positions | ✅ Same |
| Whom | ✅ Used in object positions; formal | ✅ Same |
| Informal use | Who often replaces whom | Who commonly replaces whom |
| Prepositions | To whom, with whom | To whom, with whom |
Which Should You Use?
- Who → Use as subject
- Example: Who is leading the project? ✅
- Whom → Use as object
- Example: To whom should I send the report? ✅
- Tip: Test by substituting he/she (for who) or him/her (for whom)
Common Mistakes with Who or Whom
- Using who instead of whom in formal writing ❌
- Using whom incorrectly as a subject ❌
- Incorrectly combining with prepositions
- Example: ❌ According to who wrote this report → Correct: According to whom… ✅
Who or Whom Examples
Simple Examples:
- Who is coming to the meeting? ✅
- Whom did you see yesterday? ✅
- To whom it may concern ✅
- Many of whom attended the conference ✅
Preposition Examples:
- With whom are you working? ✅
- From whom did you receive this? ✅
Plural Examples:
- Who are the top candidates? ✅
- Many of whom contributed to the project ✅
Who or Whom in a Sentence
- Who called me last night? ✅
- Whom should I ask for guidance? ✅
- Many of whom attended the ceremony ✅
- According to whom was this decision made? ✅
Who or Whom Checker Method
A simple way to decide:
- Remove the other words in the clause.
- Ask: “Would I use he/she or him/her?”
- If he/she, use who ✅
- If him/her, use whom ✅
Example:
- Original: To who/whom should I give this?
- Checker: I should give this to him. → whom ✅
Who or Whom Quiz
Choose the correct word:
- _ is responsible for this report?
- a) Who ✅
- b) Whom ❌
- To _ should I address the invitation?
- a) Who ❌
- b) Whom ✅
- Many of _ attended the workshop.
- a) Who ❌
- b) Whom ✅
- _ called you yesterday?
- a) Who ✅
- b) Whom ❌
- According to _ was the statement made?
- a) Who ❌
- b) Whom ✅
Answer Key: 1-a, 2-b, 3-b, 4-a, 5-b ✅
Who or Whom Exercises
- Fill in the blanks:
- _ is coming to the meeting?
- To _ did you send the email?
- Many of _ contributed to the discussion.
- _ is responsible for this decision?
- According to _ should we proceed?
Answers: 1-Who, 2-Whom, 3-Whom, 4-Who, 5-Whom ✅
According to Who or Whom
- Correct usage: According to whom… ✅
- Incorrect: According to who… ❌
- Use whom because it is the object of the preposition according to.
Who or Whom Plural
- Use who for plural subjects: Who are the leaders? ✅
- Use whom for plural objects: Many of whom contributed to the project. ✅
Many of Who or Whom
- Correct: Many of whom attended the seminar. ✅
- Explanation: The phrase refers to objects (receivers), so whom is correct.
Comparison Table: Who vs Whom
| Feature | Who | Whom |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Subject of clause | Object of clause |
| Pronunciation | /huː/ | /huːm/ |
| Formality | Neutral | Formal |
| Preposition usage | Not used after prepositions | Correct after prepositions (to whom, with whom) |
| Replacement tip | He/She/They | Him/Her/Them |
| Plural | Who are attending? | Many of whom attended |
FAQs
- What does who mean?
- Refers to the subject; the doer of the action.
- What does whom mean?
- Refers to the object; the receiver of the action.
- When should I use whom?
- After prepositions or as the object of a verb in formal writing.
- Is it okay to use who instead of whom?
- Informally, yes; in formal writing, use whom correctly.
- Who or whom plural usage?
- Who = plural subject; Whom = plural object (Many of whom…).
- How do you check which to use?
- Replace with he/she (who) or him/her (whom) to test.
- According to who or whom — correct?
- Correct: According to whom. ✅
- Pronunciation of who and whom?
- Who → /huː/ | Whom → /huːm/
Conclusion
Choosing between who or whom is a common English challenge. Who is always the subject (the doer), while whom is the object (the receiver). Using whom correctly shows professionalism and mastery of formal writing.
Whether you’re writing emails, reports, or essays, the checker method (he/she → who; him/her → whom) simplifies this decision.
Remember plural forms and preposition rules: many of whom and according to whom are always correct.
Final verdict: Default to who for subjects and whom for objects. Correct usage ensures clarity, professionalism, and grammatical accuracy.
Charles Dickens shares heartfelt prayers and spiritual insights at PrayersPure.com, inspiring hope, faith, and inner peace through his compassionate and reflective writing.
