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To come back with a predictable response: everyone says "who" even if they mean "whom". Using "whom", even if it is grammatically correct, is perceived to be wr
by m0nty 16y ago
To come back with a predictable response: everyone says "who" even if they mean "whom". Using "whom", even if it is grammatically correct, is perceived to be wrong in most conversational situations, or other informal situations like Twitter.
Anyway, the quick guide: if you would say "him/her", use "whom", and if you would say "he/she", use "who".
"Who is that?" ... "He is the programmer."
"To whom is the message addressed?" ... "It is addressed to him."
He -> Who / Him -> Whom
But who wouldn't say "Who is it addressed to?" You'd sound like the posh bloke from an Ealing Comedy if you used "whom" all the time.
- ralph 16y agoYou might sound like Inspector Morse; he was repeatedly correcting Lewis. Here in England, "everyone" doesn't say "who" when they mean "whom".
- m0nty 16y agoWhat, that Ralph Corderoy, one-time of the PCG? You should be able to work out who I am from my username ;) Anyway, I can't remember when I last heard someone use "whom" outside of slightly cheesy television series like Morse...
- ralph 16y agoAlmost certainly that one. Mr Burns, is that you? You've had me accessing bits that hadn't been scrubbed in a long time and have suffered some rot. Have you just arrived at number 63 or just left? There's a Dorset LUG if you're interested. Morse can be cheesy, but I thought it was a cultural reference that Americans may know. :-)
- m0nty 16y agoSent email, rather than doing our correspondence here :] Left Dorset last year, now in Hampshire again.
- electromagnetic 16y agoI've always used whom, but now I live in Canada I find myself missing it more often than I did in England. Perhaps it's just that I was taught when to use who and whom.
- cabalamat 16y agoThe vast majority do, except when the word is preceded by a preposition. E,g: "Who is it addressed to?" versus "To whom is it addressed?"