Who vs Whom: A Comprehensive Guide
Who vs. Whom
Rule. Use this he/him method to decide whether who or whom is correct:
he = who
him = whom
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Examples: |
Who/Whom wrote the letter? |
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He wrote the letter. Therefore, who is correct. |
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Who/Whom should I vote for? |
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Should I vote for him? Therefore, whom is correct. |
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We all know who/whom pulled that prank. |
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This sentence contains two clauses: we all know and who/whom pulled that prank. We are interested in the second clause because it contains the who/whom. He pulled that prank. Therefore, who is correct. |
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We wondered who/whom the book was about. |
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This sentence contains two clauses: we wondered and who/whom the book was about. Again, we are interested in the second clause because it contains the who/whom. The book was about him. Therefore, whom is correct. |
Note: This rule is compromised by an odd infatuation people have with whom—and not for good reasons. At its worst, the use of whom becomes a form of one-upmanship some employ to appear sophisticated. The following is an example of the pseudo-sophisticated whom.
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Incorrect: |
a woman whom I think is a genius |
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In this case whom is not the object of I think. Put I think at the end and witness the folly: a woman whom is a genius, I think. |
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Correct: |
a woman who I think is a genius |
Learn to spot and avoid this too-common pitfall.