TextCheck

Whose vs who’s

Who’s = who is / who has. Whose = belonging to whom.

who’s

contraction of “who is” or “who has”

Test: Does “who is” or “who has” still make sense?

  • Who’s coming tonight?
  • Who’s seen my keys?

whose

possessive: belonging to which person (or thing)

Test: Is ownership being asked about or described?

  • Whose phone is ringing?
  • The author whose book won.

Same pattern as it’s/its: the apostrophe always marks missing letters, never possession, in pronouns.

Test yourself

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

  1. _____ turn is it?

  2. _____ ready to order?

  3. The man _____ car was towed is here.

  4. _____ been to Japan?

  5. A company _____ profits rose.

Pick an answer for each sentence.

Can “whose” refer to things?

Yes. “A house whose roof leaks” is standard English and has been for centuries. The alternative, “a house the roof of which leaks”, is clumsy. Style guides including Merriam-Webster’s usage notes accept “whose” for inanimate nouns.

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’s car” or “whose car”?

“Whose car.” “Who’s car” would mean “who is car”.

Is “who’s” informal?

It’s a contraction, so very formal writing may spell out “who is”. It is fine in most writing.

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