Writing Tip 82: Who vs. Whom
Lots of people treat the word “whom” like that crazy wife in the attic, knowing her secrets but not uttering her name. Are you one of them? Or have the differences between “who” and “whom” never really been explained to you?
First things first, how on earth have I gotten all the way to Writing Tip #82 before tackling the proper use of “whom”? Avoidance? Neglect? A master plan for grammatical suspense? No matter the reason, it’s definitely overdue.
Are you one of the few who know when to use the proper pronoun? Did you know “who” and “whom” are considered pronouns?
Understanding the usage of “who” and “whom” is easiest if you understand the difference between subjects and objects in a sentence. If your eyes just started to glaze over, I’ll make it even simpler. Think about where you would use “he” versus “him” in answering a question. “Whom” ends in “m”; “him” ends in “m.” Use it as a reminder.
Q. Who was at the door? A. He was at the door.
Q. Whom did you go with? A. I went with him.
Q. Who let the dogs out? A. He let the dogs out.
Q. Whom do you believe? A. I believe him.
It’s not really as complicated as many seem to think.
Don’t be a victim of grammatical snobbery (or evasion). Command your “who” and “whom” with pride.