TextCheck

Who vs whom

Who does the action (he). Whom receives it (him).

who

subject pronoun: the one doing the action

Test: Would you answer with “he” or “she”?

  • Who called?
  • The woman who lives next door.

whom

object pronoun: the one receiving the action, or after a preposition

Test: Would you answer with “him” or “her”?

  • Whom did you invite?
  • To whom it may concern.

Him and whom both end in m. If the answer is “him”, use “whom”.

Test yourself

Five sentences. Apply the test above to each one before you pick.

  1. _____ wrote this report?

  2. To _____ should I address the letter?

  3. The candidate _____ we hired starts Monday.

  4. The candidate _____ starts Monday is from Ohio.

  5. _____ do you think will win?

Pick an answer for each sentence.

Is “whom” dying out?

In casual speech, “who” is now used for both roles (“Who did you invite?”), and dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster accept it informally. In formal writing, after a preposition (“to whom”, “with whom”) and in set phrases, “whom” is still expected.

The “do you think” trap

Phrases like “do you think”, “I believe” or “they said” can hide the real structure. Remove them first: “Who (do you think) will win?” becomes “Who will win?”, so it’s “who”.

Catch it automatically

The grammar checker flags common mix-ups like this one by looking at the words around them, and the sentence checker can explain any sentence you’re unsure about.

Questions people ask

Is it “who to contact” or “whom to contact”?

Formally “whom to contact” (contact him). In everyday writing “who to contact” is widely accepted.

Is it “whoever” or “whomever”?

Same test: “Give it to whoever asks” (he asks), “Invite whomever you like” (you like him).

Other grammar guides

Affect vs effectAffect is usually the verb. Effect is usually the noun.Its vs it’sIt’s = it is / it has. Its = belonging to it.Your vs you’reYou’re = you are. Your = belonging to you.Their, there and they’reTheir = belonging to them. There = place / “there is”. They’re = they are.Advice vs adviseAdvice is the noun (rhymes with “nice”). Advise is the verb (rhymes with “prize”).Then vs thanThan compares things. Then tells you when.Whose vs who’sWho’s = who is / who has. Whose = belonging to whom.Principal vs principlePrinciple = a rule or belief. Principal = main, a head person, or a loan amount.Lose vs looseLose = misplace or not win (rhymes with “shoes”). Loose = not tight (rhymes with “goose”).I.e. vs e.g.E.g. = for example (some of many). I.e. = that is (the exact thing).Farther vs furtherFarther = physical distance. Further = degree, time or “more”.Everyday vs every dayEveryday = ordinary (an adjective). Every day = each day.Complement vs complimentCompliment = praise. Complement = something that completes or suits.Into vs in toInto = movement inside or a change. In to = “in” (part of a verb) + “to”.Lay vs lieYou lay something down. You lie down yourself.Fewer vs lessFewer for countable things. Less for uncountable amounts.Accept vs exceptAccept = receive or agree to. Except = apart from.To, too and twoTo = direction or verb marker. Too = also / excessively. Two = 2.