Who or whom: which is correct?
Correct
who (subject) / whom (object)
Avoid
whom (as the subject: "whom is calling?")
Avoid
who (as the object in formal writing: "to who it may concern")
Summary
Correct: who (subject) / whom (object) — Avoid: whom (as the subject: "whom is calling?") / who (as the object in formal writing: "to who it may concern"). Who = the subject of a verb (who called?); whom = the object of a verb or preposition (whom did you call? to whom?).
- Part of speech
- pronoun
- Source
- Merriam-Webster
Why
Merriam-Webster: whom is the objective case of who. In formal English use whom where you would use him or them (to whom, whom did you see) and who where you would use he or they; in conversation who is widely used for both, but edited prose keeps the distinction.
Examples
- Who wrote this report?
- To whom should I address the letter?
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- Merriam-Webster · Oxford English Dictionary / Oxford spelling · SCOWL
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