Who vs. Whom – Which is Correct?

The distinction between who and whom hinges on their grammatical role in a sentence. Who acts as a subject pronoun, performing the action, while whom functions as an object pronoun, receiving the action. For “people who or people whom,” use who when referring to the subject of a clause and whom when referring to the object.

People Who or People Whom – Which is Correct?

The choice between who and whom when referring to “people” is a common point of confusion in English grammar. Both are correct, but their usage depends on their function within a sentence or clause. The fundamental rule is that who is a subject pronoun (like he, she, they), while whom is an object pronoun (like him, her, them).

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

The simplest and most effective trick to determine whether to use who or whom is the “He/Him” or “She/Her” swap test:

• If you can replace the word with he or she, use who.
• If you can replace the word with him or her, use whom.

For example:

• “To whom did you give the book?” (You gave the book to him/her.)
• “Who wrote this letter?” (He/She wrote this letter.)

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Who	Relative/Interrogative Pronoun	Refers to a person or people acting as the subject of a verb.	The people who volunteer are greatly appreciated.
Whom	Relative/Interrogative Pronoun	Refers to a person or people acting as the object of a verb or preposition.	The people to whom we sent invitations responded quickly.

How to Use Who

Who is used when the pronoun is the subject of a verb. This means who is performing the action. It can introduce a dependent clause or be used in questions. While its usage is becoming more common even in object positions in informal speech, formal writing still adheres strictly to the subject/object distinction.

Example 1: The students who completed the project received extra credit. (Who is the subject of “completed.”)

Example 2: She is looking for people who can help organize the event. (Who is the subject of “can help organize.”)

Example 3: Who will lead the team meeting tomorrow? (Who is the subject of “will lead.”)

Etymology of the word Who

The word “who” comes from Old English hwā, meaning “who, what, which, why.” Its roots trace back to Proto-Germanic *hwaz and further to the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷo-, which formed interrogative and relative pronouns. Over centuries, it evolved to specifically denote persons as subjects.

How to Use Whom

Whom is used when the pronoun is the object of a verb or a preposition. This means whom is receiving the action or is the object of a preposition. Its use is generally considered more formal and is less common in everyday conversation, often being replaced by “who” even when grammatically incorrect in informal contexts.

Example 1: To whom should I address this letter? (Whom is the object of the preposition “to.”)

Example 2: The candidate, whom the committee selected, will begin next month. (The committee selected him/her; whom is the object of “selected.”)

Example 3: He spoke to the people for whom the new policies were designed. (Whom is the object of the preposition “for.”)

Etymology of the word Whom

The word “whom” also derives from Old English, specifically from hwām, the dative case of hwā. The dative case in Old English often indicated the indirect object or the object of a preposition. As English evolved and lost most of its case endings, “whom” remained as the objective case form of “who,” preserving its role as an object pronoun.

Related Concepts

Understanding these broader grammatical concepts can help clarify the usage of “who” and “whom.”

• Relative Pronouns: Words like who, whom, whose, which, and that that introduce a dependent clause and relate it to an antecedent (the noun or pronoun it refers to) in the main clause. They function as subjects or objects within their own clauses.
• Subject and Object Pronouns: Pronouns have different forms depending on whether they are performing an action (subject: I, he, she, we, they, who) or receiving an action (object: me, him, her, us, them, whom).

Examples from Media and Literature

• “Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” – John Donne, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions (1624)
• “There are people who are always talking about ‘the good old days’ and people who are always talking about ‘the good new days’.” – Harry S. Truman (referring to “people who” as subjects)
• “He was a man whom she could never truly understand.” – From a contemporary novel (whom as the object of “understand”)
• “The company aims to hire individuals who demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills.” – Business news article (who as the subject of “demonstrate”)
• “She introduced me to her colleagues, many of whom I recognized from the conference.” – Memoir (whom as the object of the preposition “of”)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. The artist ________ painted this mural is incredibly talented.
2. To ________ did you address the complaint?
3. He praised the students ________ worked diligently on the group project.
4. The manager, ________ we all respect, announced her retirement.
5. Please notify everyone ________ you think might be interested.

Answer Key

1. who (He painted; who is the subject)
2. whom (You addressed to him; whom is the object of the preposition)
3. who (They worked; who is the subject)
4. whom (We respect her; whom is the object of the verb)
5. who (You think they might be interested; who is the subject of “might be interested”)

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “whom” becoming obsolete in English?
While “whom” is certainly less common in informal speech and writing today, it is not obsolete. It remains standard in formal writing and speech, particularly after prepositions (e.g., “to whom,” “for whom”). Overusing “whom” when “who” is grammatically correct, however, can sound pretentious.

Question 2: Can I always use “who” and avoid “whom”?
In very informal contexts, using “who” instead of “whom” is often acceptable and common. However, in formal writing, academic papers, professional communications, or public speaking, adhering to the traditional subject/object distinction for “who” and “whom” is expected and demonstrates a stronger command of grammar.

Question 3: How do I know if “who” or “whom” refers to the subject or object when it’s part of a clause?
Isolate the clause containing “who” or “whom.” Then, try replacing it with “he/him” or “she/her.” If “he” or “she” fits, use “who.” If “him” or “her” fits, use “whom.” For example, in “The person (who/whom) I saw,” consider “I saw him.” Since “him” fits, “whom” is correct: “The person whom I saw.”

Conclusion

Mastering the distinction between who and whom is a hallmark of precise English usage, particularly when referring to groups of “people.” Remember that who acts as a subject pronoun, performing the action, while whom functions as an object pronoun, receiving the action or following a preposition. The “He/Him” or “She/Her” swap test is an invaluable tool for making the correct choice. While informal language often blurs these lines, understanding and applying the grammatical rules for who and whom in formal contexts will significantly enhance your clarity and credibility.

Pro Tip: In professional settings, accurate use of “who” and “whom” can subtly convey attention to detail and a strong command of language, positively impacting your professional reputation.