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Introduction
The difference between who and whom is one of the most common grammar puzzles. Both words look formal, both appear in questions, and both confuse even native speakers. This post breaks it down in plain language so you’ll never hesitate again.
What Does “Who” Mean? Who is a subject pronoun the one doing the action.
Who is calling me?
Who wrote this article?
If you can replace it with he/she/they, then who is correct.
What Does “Whom” Mean? Whom is an object pronoun the one receiving the action.
Whom did you invite to the party?
Whom should I contact for help?
If you can replace it with him/her/them, then whom is correct.
Quick Rule to Remember 👉 Who = subject (he/she/they) 👉 Whom = object (him/her/them)
Common Mistakes
❌ Who did you meet yesterday?
✅ Whom did you meet yesterday?
Is “Whom” Still Relevant? In everyday speech, who often replaces whom. But in formal writing essays, interviews, work emails using whom correctly shows precision and professionalism.
Conclusion Next time you’re stuck, try the substitution trick: he = who, him = whom. With practice, the choice will feel natural.