Some of Whom or Some of Who? The Complete Grammar Guide

Some of Whom or Some of Who look similar, a clear versus choice that writers, speakers, English learners, and native people judge fast today, now, and then, and it shapes polished writing daily.

From my experience, one wrong decision dramatically changes how polished writing appears, even when the phrase feels natural. This article acts as a guide, quick guide, and simple guide that explains grammar, basic grammar, rules, and each rule behind the choice, difference, distinction, and important difference. The key concept is whether to use, using, or used after certain words, because standard English, formal English, and informal English treat usage differently, and the right form matters every time.

I learned to read, learn, and follow easy rules by doing checks and checking the parts of speech. When who works as a subject pronoun and whom as an object pronoun, the sentence or clause stays clear. Mixing subject and object leads to incorrect, incorrect usage, common mistakes, common errors, mistakes, and errors we must avoid and keep avoiding. Strong examples, an example, and real-world examples show how verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and pronouns shape form, language, and expressions, helping people know who they are referring to.

Why This Confusion Happens

English is full of tricky pronouns, and “who” vs. “whom” is a classic example. The confusion often arises because we naturally speak in a way that ignores strict grammatical rules.

• Who is a subject pronoun. It performs the action.
• Whom is an object pronoun. It receives the action.

People often default to who in casual speech, which makes formal writing tricky. Sentences like “Some of who are invited” may feel natural in conversation, but they’re grammatically incorrect. Recognizing the difference early can save you from common mistakes in essays, emails, and publications.

Grammar Refresher: Who vs. Whom

Let’s quickly refresh the core rules:

Pronoun	Role	Example
Who	Subject	Who is coming to the meeting?
Whom	Object	To whom should I send this email?

Rule of thumb:

• If the pronoun is performing the action, use who.
• If it is receiving the action, use whom.

You can also use the substitution trick:

• Replace with he/she → use who
• Replace with him/her → use whom

Example:

• “Some of whom are attending the conference.” → Some of them are attending ✅
• “Some of who are attending the conference.” → Some of they are attending ❌

Quick Reference Table: Who vs. Whom

Here’s a cheat sheet for quick reference:

Usage Scenario	Correct Pronoun	Example Sentence
Subject of sentence	Who	Who called you last night?
Object of verb	Whom	Whom did you call last night?
Object of preposition	Whom	With whom are you going?
Casual speech	Who	Who’s ready for lunch? (informal)

The Role of Prepositions

One key reason “whom” often appears is prepositions. Whenever a pronoun follows a preposition, it almost always takes whom.

Examples:

• To whom it may concern
• With whom are you meeting?
• For some of whom the rules do not apply

Tip: Ask yourself if the pronoun is linked to a preposition. If yes, whom is likely correct.

Understanding “Some of Whom”

“Some of whom” is a phrase that correctly uses whom as the object of a preposition or relative clause.

Example breakdown:

• Sentence: The committee members, some of whom were new, voted unanimously.
  • Main clause: The committee members voted unanimously.
  • Relative clause: some of whom were new
  • Here, whom refers to “committee members,” and it’s the object of the clause, making it grammatically correct.

Other examples:

• I spoke to several employees, some of whom had never used the software before.
• They invited the best artists, some of whom traveled internationally for the exhibition.

Analyzing Sentences: “Some of Whom” in Action

Let’s dissect a sentence:

• The students submitted essays, some of whom earned top grades.

Step-by-step:

1. Main clause: The students submitted essays.
2. Relative clause: some of whom earned top grades.
3. Who vs. Whom check: Who received the action (earned top grades)? → The students. They are the object of “of whom,” not the subject. ✅

Using diagrams or highlighting the object can help you visualize the correct usage.

Real-World Examples from Media and Literature

Professional publications rarely misuse some of whom. Here are examples:

• New York Times: “The candidates, some of whom had extensive experience, impressed the judges.”
• Harvard Business Review: “We met with several CEOs, some of whom were pioneers in their industry.”

Seeing proper usage in respected publications reinforces that this structure is formal, correct, and widely accepted.

Why “Some of Who” Is Usually Incorrect

“Some of who” violates standard English rules because who cannot function as the object of a preposition or clause.

Incorrect example:

• The volunteers, some of who attended the workshop, were recognized. ❌

Corrected version:

• The volunteers, some of whom attended the workshop, were recognized. ✅

Quick tip: If you hear the sentence in your head as “them” instead of “they,” you should use whom.

How to Decide Quickly: Simple Tips and Tricks

Here’s a practical cheat sheet for choosing who or whom:

1. Substitute with he/she vs. him/her:
   • Some of ___ attended the seminar. → Some of them attended. ✅ → whom
2. Check for prepositions:
   • Words like of, with, to, for often signal whom.
3. Use the question method:
   • Turn the sentence into a question:
     • You spoke to some of whom? → Correct
     • You spoke to some of who? → Incorrect
4. Remember casual vs. formal:
   • In casual speech, people may say “some of who,” but in writing, whom is correct.

Non-Human References: “Some of Which”

When referring to objects, animals, or abstract nouns, we use which instead of who/whom.

Examples:

• The paintings, some of which were lost during transit, were restored.
• The proposals, some of which lacked details, were rejected.

Rule: “Who” and “whom” are reserved for people; everything else uses which.

Common Mistakes by Learners and Professionals

Even native speakers make these mistakes:

• Mixing who and whom after prepositions.
• Overusing who in formal writing.
• Forgetting “some of” requires whom in relative clauses.

Examples:

Incorrect	Correct
Some of who attended the meeting were late.	Some of whom attended the meeting were late.
I spoke to people, some of who disagreed.	I spoke to people, some of whom disagreed.
The authors, some of who wrote the introduction, were present.	The authors, some of whom wrote the introduction, were present.

Advanced Notes for Grammar Enthusiasts

For editors, linguists, and enthusiasts:

• Historically, whom has declined in casual speech but remains formal and correct in written English.
• Some style guides allow who in informal relative clauses, but “some of who” is still considered incorrect.
• In editing, always check: preposition + pronoun = whom.

Case Studies: Editing in Action

Before Editing:

• The participants, some of who registered late, missed the introduction session.

After Editing:

• The participants, some of whom registered late, missed the introduction session.

Before Editing:

• The executives, some of who disagreed with the proposal, requested changes.

After Editing:

• The executives, some of whom disagreed with the proposal, requested changes.

Notice how clarity and professionalism improve instantly.

Read More: What Does “Hi There” Really Mean? A No-Nonsense Guide

Key Takeaways: Fast Grammar Reference

• Who = subject; Whom = object
• Some of whom is correct for relative clauses referring to people.
• Check prepositions: of, to, with, for → usually whom
• Use the he/she vs. him/her test
• Casual speech may bend rules, but formal writing expects whom

Cheat Sheet Table:

Shortcut	Example
He/She → Who	Who is attending?
Him/Her → Whom	To whom should I speak?
Preposition + pronoun → Whom	With whom are you meeting?

Mini Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Choose the correct form in each sentence:

1. The teachers, some of ___ were on leave, postponed the meeting.
   • a) who
   • b) whom ✅
2. I met several authors, some of ___ wrote bestselling novels.
   • a) who
   • b) whom ✅
3. The volunteers, some of ___ had prior experience, were assigned key tasks.
   • a) who
   • b) whom ✅

Answer Key: 1-b, 2-b, 3-b

FAQs:

1. What is the main difference between some of whom and some of who?

The key difference is grammar: some of whom is correct in standard English when referring to people as an object, while some of who is usually incorrect usage.

2. Why do writers and English learners find this confusing?

The two phrases look similar, and the choice feels natural in informal English, which leads to common mistakes and errors.

3. When should I use whom instead of who?

Use whom when it acts as an object pronoun, and who when it is a subject pronoun in a sentence or clause.

4. Does this rule matter in everyday communication?

Yes, using the right form improves clarity, confidence, and writing credibility, especially in formal English.

5. How can I avoid mistakes with these phrases?

Focus on parts of speech, follow easy rules, review real-world examples, and regularly check your writing for correctness.

Conclusion:

Understanding Some of Whom or Some of Who helps writers, speakers, and English learners make better choices in language. When you know the rules, the difference becomes clear, and your communication sounds more polished and precise.

With practice, attention, and patience, you can master this grammar point. Small details like this sharpen your skills, boost confidence, and keep your English usage top-notch.