While whom is less common in everyday conversation, it’s still considered grammatically correct and is often used in formal writing and speech.
Key takeaways:
Who is a
Whom is an
Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs
Deciding between who and whom can feel tricky, but it’s actually straightforward once you understand their roles in a sentence. The difference between who and whom can be confusing, but mastering their use is key to proper grammar. Who is used as a subject, while whom functions as an object in a sentence.
Who is used as a subject in a sentence—it performs the action.
"Who is knocking at the door?"
(Here, who is the subject performing the action of knocking.)
"Who wrote this book?"
(Who is the subject performing the action of writing.)
"Whom" is used as an object in a sentence—it receives the action.
"To whom was the invitation sent?"
(Here, "whom" is the object of the preposition "to.")
"Whom did you meet at the party?"
("Whom" is the object receiving the action of meeting.)
Choose the correct word (who or whom) for each sentence:
___ is calling my name?
To ___ should this letter be sent?
___ wrote the book we’re discussing?
___ did you meet at the conference?
Here are some frequent errors and how to avoid them:
Word | Role | Function | Examples |
Who | Subject Pronoun | Refers to the doer of the action | "Who is speaking?" |
Whom | Object Pronoun | Refers to the receiver of the action | "To whom should I address the letter?" |
Understanding the difference between who and whom ensures your writing remains polished and grammatically correct. Always remember the he/him test to determine the correct usage. With practice, you'll confidently master these pronouns in no time!
Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between who vs. whom:
___ will take responsibility for this project?
Who
With ___ are you going to the event?
Whom
___ do you believe is the best candidate?
To ___ did you lend your notes?
___ can solve this problem effectively?
Master the nuances of grammar and elevate your writing skills with this comprehensive course: Grokking the Technical Writing Process—your gateway to mastering tricky topics like who vs. whom and beyond!
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To enhance technical writing and minimize common grammar mistakes, continue exploring these topics:
Commonly confused words (homophones & similar-sounding words): These words sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.
Prepositions & usage differences: These words and phrases are often confused due to subtle contextual differences.
Punctuation & formatting: These involve rules for using dashes, abbreviations, and sentence structure.
Grammar & sentence structure: These deal with pronoun choices, verb usage, and comparison.
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