In this episode, we tackle the age-old grammar puzzle: who vs. whom. Both are pronouns, but who stands in for the subject, while whom replaces the object.
Here’s a simple trick. If you can replace the pronoun with he/she, use who, but if it requires him/her, use whom. Clear as mud, right? Here are a couple of examples:
Who is the person for whom I need to look?
He is the person I need to look for.
I need to look for him.
While grammatically correct usage matters, language is evolving and getting more relaxed. Many people skip whom entirely because it feels too formal or fussy.
Still, knowing the rules gives us the power to decide when to follow or break them.
Whether you’re on team who or holding steady on whom, the key is to make deliberate choices that fit your writing style and audience.
Tell us about your approach to the who vs. whom issue. Do you still use whom when grammatically required, or do you stick with who?
Remember, whether you’re a who-er or a whom-er, the only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
Whom the ph**k do you think you are just doesn’t sound right.
For the French reader I am, whom, always held a special ring to my ears. Since writing in English I have used whom a number of times but not necessarily accordingly to grammar. Let me try. For example; Between John and David whom should I choose, the first man who (or is it which?) replies on this vlog subject or the other one? Does this work? Have a great day guys.
Thierry, thanks. Whom does have a full blowen cozy warm sound. Food for thought.
I like to use the word Whom. It was good enough for Ernest Hemingway when he wrote his book “For Whom the Bell tolls” a 1940 novel. That`s pretty good company.
I’m from whomville! Can’t really say why. Thanks for the clarity.
The way I’ll remember it is: Whom has an m and so does him. If the sentence would have her or him, use whom. If the sentence would have she or he (no m), use who.
Kit, yours is easier to remember. She, Thanks WHO.
Excellent way to figure it out, and it makes sense. Thanks