Many writers, speakers, and English learners often find the tricky phrase Some of Whom or Some of Who confusing. From personal experience, a quick guide to the correct usage of these phrases is crucial to sharpen your communication skills and boost your writing credibility. The key is to understand the core grammar rules that help avoid common mistakes and usage errors. For instance, some of whom is usually used when referring to people who are the object of a sentence, while some of who is often considered incorrect in formal English grammar. This important phrase distinction can significantly improve your writing skills and enhance language precision.
Mastering this phrase in practice means paying close attention to grammar guidance, phrase explanation, and real-world examples. By knowing the usage rules and embracing the linguistic nuance, you can use these phrases confidently and with clear clarity. The ongoing learning and application process involves avoiding common errors and applying helpful usage tips to foster your writing improvement. As you continue through the learning process, regular correctness checks in your writing will help you prevent usage mistakes and deepen your phrase comprehension. With enough patience and practice, you will master these expressions, ensuring strong communication clarity and maintaining excellent standards of English usage.
Why the Confusion Between “Some of Whom” and “Some of Who” Exists
English grammar often trips people up with distinctions that feel subtle but are essential. The confusion between some of whom and some of who mostly arises because casual speech tends to blur the lines between subjective and objective pronouns.
People say “some of who” when speaking informally, especially in conversation and social media posts. The formal grammar rule, however, says “some of whom” is correct because “whom” serves as the object of the preposition “of.” This subtlety often fades in everyday talk, where precision takes a back seat to ease and flow.
Social media and texting accelerate this trend by favoring shortcuts and relaxed grammar. But if you’re writing professionally or aiming for polished prose, knowing when and why to use some of whom is a must.
Refresher: The Core Grammar Rules Behind “Who” vs “Whom”
Understanding why some of whom is correct starts with grasping the difference between who and whom:
- Who functions as a subjective case pronoun, used when the pronoun acts as the subject of a clause.
- Whom is an objective case pronoun, used when it functions as the object of a verb or preposition.
For example:
- Who is coming to the party? (subject)
- To whom did you give the book? (object of preposition “to”)
In the phrase some of whom, whom is the object of the preposition of. This makes some of whom grammatically correct, while some of who incorrectly uses a subjective pronoun in an object position.
The Role of Prepositions Before “Whom”
Prepositions play a critical role in choosing who or whom. Whenever a pronoun follows a preposition, it should be in the objective case – whom.
Common prepositional phrases with whom include:
- to whom
- with whom
- about whom
- some of whom
Because “of” is a preposition, some of whom correctly uses whom as the object.
Preposition | Correct Pronoun Example | Explanation |
of | some of whom | Whom is object of “of” |
to | to whom | Whom is object of “to” |
with | with whom | Whom is object of “with” |
about | about whom | Whom is object of “about” |
When a pronoun follows no preposition and acts as the subject, use who instead.
“Some of Whom” Is Correct – Here’s Why
The phrase some of whom is correct because whom properly functions as the object of the preposition of in a relative clause.
Consider this example sentence: “There were ten applicants, some of whom had previous experience.”
Here’s what’s happening:
- “There were ten applicants” is the main clause.
- “Some of whom had previous experience” is a relative clause describing a portion of the applicants.
- Whom is the object of of, indicating part of a group.
This structure is clear, grammatically sound, and widely accepted in formal and academic writing.
Sentence Dissection: How “Some of Whom” Works Grammatically
Breaking down the phrase highlights why some of whom fits perfectly:
Component | Role | Example |
Some | Quantifier (portion) | Some |
Of | Preposition | Of |
Whom | Object pronoun | Whom (object of “of”) |
Relative Clause | Describes noun | Whom had previous experience |
Visualizing this helps:
[Noun phrase], some of whom [relative clause].
Example:
“We interviewed several candidates, some of whom were already familiar with the software.”
Real-World Usage: Where You’ll See “Some of Whom”
Some of whom is common in formal writing, including:
- Academic papers
- Journalism articles
- Legal documents
- Business reports
For example, The New York Times uses this phrase regularly when detailing groups or populations. It lends clarity and precision, especially when specifying subsets of a larger group.
In casual speech or informal writing, you might hear some of who, but it’s usually marked incorrect by grammar experts and style guides like The Chicago Manual of Style.
“Some of Who” – Why It’s Almost Always Incorrect
Using some of who places a subjective pronoun (who) where an objective pronoun (whom) is needed, violating grammar rules.
Example: Incorrect: “There were five students, some of who were absent.” Correct: “There were five students, some of whom were absent.”
Some of who appears mostly in informal settings or dialectical speech but isn’t accepted in formal writing or standard English grammar.
How to Easily Decide: Tricks for Choosing “Who” or “Whom”
If you hesitate between who and whom, use the he/him test:
- Replace who or whom with he or him in the sentence.
- If he fits, use who.
- If him fits, use whom.
Example: “Some of ___ had experience.” Try: “Some of him had experience.” (No) Try: “Some of he had experience.” (No) Actually, here the preposition of triggers whom.
Alternatively, rephrase sentences to test: “Of whom did you speak?” Rephrased: “You spoke of whom?” (Correct)
Deep Dive: “Some of Whom” vs. “Some of Them”
Both phrases can describe subsets, but their usage differs:
Phrase | Use Case | Example |
Some of whom | Refers to people, formal | “The team, some of whom are new, excels.” |
Some of them | More general, informal | “The team, some of them are new.” |
Some of whom is preferred in formal writing, especially when embedded in relative clauses.
“Some of Which” and Non-Human References
For non-human objects or things, which replaces who/whom:
Example:
“The books, some of which were rare editions, sold quickly.”
This distinction helps clarify whether you’re referring to people (whom) or things (which).
Antecedent Type | Correct Phrase | Example |
People | Some of whom | “The students, some of whom arrived early.” |
Things/Objects | Some of which | “The files, some of which are confidential.” |
Examples of “Who” and “Whom” in Real Sentences
Sentence | Correct Usage | Explanation |
Who is calling? | Who | Subjective case; subject of the verb |
To whom should I send this? | Whom | Object of preposition “to” |
She knows who will attend. | Who | Subject of embedded clause |
The people, some of whom arrived late | Whom | Object of preposition “of” in relative clause |
Common Mistakes English Learners (and Natives) Make
- Overusing whom even when who is correct (e.g., “Who did it?” is correct, not “Whom did it?”).
- Replacing all who with whom to sound “formal” leads to awkward sentences.
- Misplacing prepositions or omitting them and then misusing pronouns.
- Ignoring relative clauses and their grammatical triggers.
Advanced Grammar Notes for Enthusiasts and Editors
- Relative Clause Reduction: Sometimes, clauses with some of whom get shortened in informal speech, which can confuse pronoun choice.
- Ellipsis: In some cases, omitted words make the object unclear, so editors must carefully restore full clauses.
- Global Variations: While American and British English agree on this rule, some dialects may relax whom use, but formal writing standards remain consistent.
Case Studies: Correct Usage in Editing and Copywriting
Before: “The candidates, some of who had experience, were impressive.”
After: “The candidates, some of whom had experience, were impressive.”
Editing makes a significant difference in clarity and professionalism, especially in business and academic texts.
Key Takeaways and Fast Grammar Reference
Situation | Correct Phrase | Tip |
Object of preposition (people) | Some of whom | Use whom after prepositions |
Subject of clause | Some of who | Use who only as subject |
Object or subset of things | Some of which | Use which for objects/things |
General informal reference | Some of them | Common in speech, less formal |
Final Thoughts
Understanding the difference between some of whom and some of who may seem like a small grammar point, but mastering it greatly improves both clarity and professionalism in your writing. Remember, “some of whom” is grammatically correct because whom functions as the object of the preposition of – a detail that matters most in formal and academic contexts.
While casual speech often favors some of who, relying on this in professional writing can weaken your credibility. Using simple tricks like the he/him test helps you confidently choose the right pronoun every time.
Ultimately, language is a tool for clear communication, and knowing these subtle distinctions empowers you to express yourself with precision and confidence. Keep practicing, stay curious, and don’t hesitate to revisit these rules whenever you need a refresher.
FAQs
What if I’m not sure whether to use “whom”?
Use the he/him test or rephrase your sentence. If him fits, use whom.
Is “whom” outdated or too formal?
While whom is less common in casual speech, it remains essential in formal writing for clarity and correctness.
Can I start a sentence with “whom”?
Yes, especially in questions or relative clauses, e.g., “Whom did you see?” or “The person whom I met…”
Why does “some of whom” sound weird in my sentence?
The structure may be incorrect or too formal for the context.