Who vs Whom: Formal and Everyday Usage

?? Last updated: March 2026 – Based on Merriam-Webster and Chicago Manual of Style.

Quick Answer: Who vs. Whom

Use "who" when it is the subject of a clause (it performs the action). Use "whom" when it is the object (it receives the action). Memory trick: if you can replace it with him/her, use whom. Both end in M. If you can replace it with he/she, use who.

The word whom makes many writers pause. In modern, informal English, who has largely taken over in casual speech, but in formal writing and specific grammatical constructions, whom is still the correct choice – and required in exams like IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge English.

The Basic Rule: Subject vs. Object

Use who when referring to the subject of a clause (the one performing the action). Use whom when referring to the object of a verb or preposition (the one receiving the action).

The He/Him Substitution Test

The fastest and most reliable way to decide: substitute he/him (or she/her) into your sentence.

If "he" fits ? use "who": "Who called?" ? "He called." ? ? Use who
If "him" fits ? use "whom": "For ___ should I vote?" ? "I should vote for him." ? ? Use whom
Memory aid: both "him" and "whom" end in M – if HIM works, use WHOM.

Who/Whom by Context: Quick Reference Table

Context	Correct Form	Example
Subject of a question	who	Who wrote this report?
Object of a question	whom	Whom did you invite?
After a preposition	whom	To whom should I send this?
Relative clause (subject)	who	The man who called is here.
Relative clause (object)	whom	The manager whom I met was helpful.
Formal writing / exams	whom (where required)	Whom should we contact?
Casual conversation	who (accepted)	Who did you see? (informal OK)

15+ Examples: Who vs. Whom in Practice

As a subject (use who):

Who is coming to the meeting? (He is coming ? subject ? who)
The candidate who applied first will be contacted. (She applied ? subject)
Do you know who wrote this? (He wrote it ? subject)
Who told you that? (She told you ? subject)

As an object (use whom):

To whom should I address this letter? (address it to him ? after preposition ? whom)
The professor whom I admire most is Dr. Chen. (I admire him ? object)
Whom did you call? (You called him ? object of verb ? whom)
For whom is this gift? (It is for her ? after preposition ? whom)
The employee whom we hired last month is excellent. (We hired her ? object)

When "Who" Replaces "Whom" in Modern English

In casual, everyday conversation, native speakers increasingly use "who" in place of "whom" – and this is now widely accepted informally. The key is knowing when each register applies:

Formal/academic/business writing ? always use "whom" where required
English exams (IELTS, TOEFL, CAE) ? always use "whom" where required
Casual conversation ? "who" replacing "whom" is acceptable
After prepositions ? always use "whom" even informally (ending a sentence with "to who" sounds wrong to most native speakers too)