Who vs. What – Which is Correct?
Both who and what are correct English interrogative pronouns, but they ask about different kinds of information. Use who for a person or people, especially when asking about identity or choice of subject or object; use what for things, actions, ideas, or unspecified options. Context determines the most natural choice.
Who or What – Which is Correct?
Who and what are both correct words, but they usually refer to different types of answers. Use who when the answer is a person or group of people. Use what when the answer is a thing, idea, activity, description, or category.
For example, “Who called you?” expects the name of a person, while “What happened?” expects an event or explanation. In some questions, both words can appear together: “Who or what caused the problem?” This asks whether the cause was a person, an object, an event, or another type of force.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the person test: if the answer could begin with “a person named…” or “someone,” choose who. If the answer could begin with “a thing,” “an idea,” “an action,” or “something,” choose what.
Compare these questions:
- Who is at the door? The answer might be “Maria” or “the delivery driver.”
- What is at the door? The answer might be “a package” or “a note.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| who | Interrogative pronoun | Asks about a person or people | Who organized the meeting? |
| what | Interrogative pronoun or determiner | Asks about a thing, idea, action, or category | What caused the delay? |
How to Use Who
Who is an interrogative pronoun used to ask about a person or group of people. It can ask about identity, responsibility, membership, preference, or the person performing an action. It is common in casual and formal English.
In traditional grammar, who is the subject form and whom is the object form. However, in everyday American English, who is widely used for both roles. For example, “Who did you invite?” is more common in ordinary conversation than “Whom did you invite?”
Example 1: Who left this message?
Example 2: Who will lead the project?
Example 3: Who did you meet at the conference?
Etymology of the Word Who
Who comes from Old English hwā, an interrogative word meaning “what person” or “which person.” It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, including German wer and Dutch wie. Its spelling and pronunciation have changed over time, but its central function has remained connected to asking about people.
How to Use What
What is used to ask about things, information, actions, ideas, descriptions, and categories. It can function as a pronoun by itself, as in “What happened?” It can also act as a determiner before a noun, as in “What book are you reading?”
What can sometimes refer to people when the question asks about a person’s category, profession, role, or identity in a particular context. For example, “What kind of doctor is she?” asks about her specialty, not simply her identity. When asking directly for a person’s identity, however, who is normally the better choice.
Example 1: What are you making for dinner?
Example 2: What caused the computer to shut down?
Example 3: What kind of music do you enjoy?
Etymology of the Word What
What comes from Old English hwæt, meaning “which thing” or “what.” It is related to words such as German was and Dutch wat. In modern English, it has developed several uses, including questioning, exclamation, emphasis, and the introduction of noun clauses.
Related Concepts
Understanding interrogative pronouns and grammatical roles makes it easier to choose between who and what accurately.
- Interrogative pronouns: Words such as who, what, which, and whose introduce questions or indirect questions.
- People versus things: English generally uses who for people and what for things, ideas, events, and actions.
- Subject and object: A subject performs an action, while an object receives it. Traditional grammar distinguishes who from whom, although everyday usage often favors who.
- Determiners: In “What movie are you watching?” the word what determines the noun movie rather than standing alone as a pronoun.
Examples from Media and Literature
Questions using who and what appear frequently in storytelling, journalism, films, and everyday dialogue.
- Mystery novels: A detective may ask, “Who committed the crime?” because the answer is expected to be a person.
- News reports: A reporter may ask, “What caused the outage?” because the answer could be equipment failure, weather, or another event.
- Film dialogue: A character who hears a noise may ask, “Who is there?” when expecting a person, or “What was that?” when the source is unknown.
- Historical writing: A biography may explore “Who shaped the movement?” while a history of technology may examine “What changed society?”
- Classic fiction: Characters often ask “Who are you?” to establish identity and “What do you want?” to discover purpose or intention.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- _____ is responsible for opening the store?
- _____ did you bring to the picnic?
- _____ called while I was away?
- _____ caused the glass to break?
- _____ do you want to invite to the ceremony?
Answer Key
- Who — The question asks about a person.
- What — The question asks about a thing or things.
- Who — The answer is expected to be a person.
- What — The cause could be an object, event, or action.
- Who — The question asks which people to invite.
Who Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Which person | Asks for one person selected from a known or possible group |
| What person | A less common alternative emphasizing a person’s identity or type |
| Whom | The traditional object form related to who |
| Which individual | A more formal phrase referring to one person |
What Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Which thing | Asks for one thing selected from a group |
| What item | Specifies that the answer should be an object or item |
| What kind of | Asks about a type, category, or quality |
| Which | Asks someone to identify one option from a defined set |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Should I use “who” or “what” for a person?
Use who when asking directly about a person’s identity. For example, say “Who is your teacher?” Use what when asking about the person’s profession, type, or category, as in “What does your teacher teach?”
Question 2: Is “who or what” grammatically correct?
Yes. The phrase who or what is correct when the possible answer could be either a person or a nonperson. For example, “Who or what triggered the alarm?” leaves both possibilities open.
Question 3: Can “what” refer to people?
Yes, but usually only when asking about a person’s role, profession, type, or characteristics. “What is she?” may ask about her occupation or classification, while “Who is she?” normally asks for her identity.
Conclusion
Who and what are both correct, but they serve different purposes. Choose who for people and what for things, ideas, actions, events, or categories. When the answer might be either a person or something else, use who or what. Pro Tip: Using the precise interrogative in professional emails and documents improves clarity and protects your credibility.
