Who vs Whom: When to Use Each
Use who when it is the subject, doing the action (like he or she). Use whom when it is the object, receiving the action, especially after a preposition (like him or her). Who wrote this? To whom should I send it?
Updated 21 October 2026 · EssayWriting.com editorial team
- Who is a subject (he); whom is an object (him).
- Use whom directly after prepositions: to whom, with whom, of whom.
- If whom feels stiff, rewrite the sentence to avoid it.
Who vs whom: the difference at a glance
| Word | Role | Replace with | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| who | subject | he / she / they | Who cited this source? (She cited it.) |
| whom | object | him / her / them | Whom did you interview? (I interviewed him.) |
| whom | after a preposition | him / her / them | The tutor with whom I worked. |
The he/him test
Answer the question, or rephrase the clause, using he or him. If he fits, use who. If him fits, use whom. The m in him matches the m in whom.
- Who/whom called? → He called → Who called?
- Who/whom did you call? → You called him → Whom did you call?
- The author who/whom I quoted… → I quoted him → The author whom I quoted.
- The author who/whom wrote the study… → He wrote it → The author who wrote the study.
Who and whom after prepositions
Directly after a preposition (to, for, with, by, of, from), use whom: to whom, for whom, with whom, by whom, many of whom.
- To whom it may concern.
- The participants, most of whom were students, completed a survey.
- For whom is this essay written?
How to remember the difference
Him = whom (both end in m). He = who. If you can answer with him, the question needs whom.
Tricky cases and exceptions
Clauses inside clauses. "Give it to whoever/whomever asks" takes whoever, because inside its clause it is the subject of asks, even though it follows to. Test the clause on its own: "he asks".
Parenthetical "I think". "The student who I think won" uses who: remove "I think" and you get "who won".
Informal English. In conversation, who often replaces whom ("Who did you meet?") and this is widely accepted. Formal writing still expects whom as an object.
Who vs whom in academic writing
Academic writing is formal, so use whom where grammar requires it, especially in phrases like "participants, all of whom…" and "the authors with whom…". If whom sounds stiff, rewrite the sentence: "the author I quoted" avoids the choice entirely.
Practice quiz
Choose the correct option, then open each answer to check your reasoning.
1. ___ wrote the introduction? (Who / Whom)
Who: he wrote it.
2. With ___ did you collaborate? (who / whom)
whom: after "with".
3. The scholar ___ I cited disagreed. (who / whom)
whom: I cited him.
4. The scholar ___ disagreed was cited. (who / whom)
who: she disagreed.
5. Fifty students, many of ___ were first-years, took part. (who / whom)
whom: after "of".
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is it "to who" or "to whom"?
To whom. After a preposition use whom.
Is whom still used?
Yes, especially in formal and academic writing, though conversation often uses who.
What about whoever and whomever?
Use the same test inside the clause: whoever = he, whomever = him.
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