Some of Whom or Some of Who: The Correct Grammar 

Ever paused mid-sentence and wondered whether it should be “some of whom” or “some of who”? It looks like a small detail, but this tiny choice can instantly reveal how confident you are with English grammar. Even experienced writers slip up here because the difference feels subtle until you actually break it down.

The confusion comes from how English has evolved in everyday speech. People naturally say “who” more often than “whom,” and over time that habit sneaks into writing. So when a sentence includes phrases like “some of who,” it may sound fine in your head, but it doesn’t always match formal grammar rules. That gap between spoken English and written accuracy is exactly where most mistakes happen.

Once you understand how subjects, objects, and prepositions work together, the rule becomes surprisingly straightforward. In this guide, you’ll see why “some of whom” is the correct structure, when it must be used, and how to avoid the common traps that even native speakers fall into. By the end, you won’t just memorize the rule, you’ll actually understand how to apply it with confidence in real writing.

Read More: In vs Within: Usage and Examples

Some of Whom or Some of Who: Which Is Correct?

The Short Answer

In standard English grammar, some of whom is correct.

Correct:

• The employees, some of whom work remotely, attended the meeting.
• The guests, some of whom traveled overseas, arrived early.

Incorrect:

• The employees, some of who work remotely, attended the meeting.
• The guests, some of who traveled overseas, arrived early.

Why “Some of Whom” Is Grammatically Correct

The word whom functions as an object. In the phrase some of whom, the pronoun follows the preposition of, which requires an object form.

Think of it this way:

• to him
• for her
• with them
• of whom

The same grammatical principle applies in each case.

Why “Some of Who” Sounds Right to Many People

Modern English speakers rarely use whom in everyday speech.

As a result, people often replace it with who, even when grammar rules don’t support that choice. While this substitution is common in casual conversation, formal writing still treats some of whom as the standard construction.

Quick Examples at a Glance

Correct Usage	Incorrect Usage
The players, some of whom were injured, rested.	The players, some of who were injured, rested.
The visitors, many of whom arrived late, apologized.	The visitors, many of who arrived late, apologized.
The teachers, most of whom had experience, succeeded.	The teachers, most of who had experience, succeeded.

Why People Confuse “Some of Whom” and “Some of Who”

The Decline of “Whom” in Everyday English

A century ago, English speakers used whom much more frequently.

Today, most people reserve it for formal writing, academic work, journalism, and professional communication. In casual speech, many speakers replace it with who regardless of grammatical correctness.

How Spoken English Influences Writing

People often write the way they speak.

Since few speakers naturally say phrases like:

• To whom it may concern
• Of whom
• With whom

they begin using who in those positions when writing.

Why Native Speakers Often Avoid “Whom”

Many writers worry that whom sounds old-fashioned or overly formal.

Ironically, avoiding whom can sometimes create grammatical errors. The goal isn’t to use whom everywhere. Instead, use it when grammar genuinely requires it.

Common Misconceptions About Relative Pronouns

Many learners assume:

“Who sounds more natural, so it must be correct.”

Unfortunately, natural-sounding English isn’t always grammatically correct English.

Understanding the Difference Between “Who” and “Whom”

The entire debate comes down to one essential concept:

Subjects and objects.

Subject Pronouns vs Object Pronouns

A subject performs an action.

An object receives an action.

Consider this sentence:

Sarah called Michael.

• Sarah = subject
• Michael = object

The same relationship exists with pronouns.

When to Use “Who”

Use who when the pronoun acts as the subject.

Examples:

• Who called you?
• The student who won the award smiled.
• The doctor who treated me was excellent.

When to Use “Whom”

Use whom when the pronoun functions as an object.

Examples:

• Whom did you call?
• The employee whom we hired started Monday.
• The person with whom I spoke was helpful.

The Grammar Logic Behind the Rule

A simple comparison helps.

Subject Form	Object Form
He	Him
She	Her
They	Them
Who	Whom

This table reveals the true relationship.

If him, her, or them fits, use whom.

If he, she, or they fits, use who.

Why “Some of Whom” Is Correct

The Role of the Preposition “Of”

The word of is a preposition.

Prepositions require objects.

Examples include:

• of him
• of her
• of them
• of whom

Because whom serves as the object of of, it is grammatically correct.

Why “Whom” Functions as an Object

Look at this sentence:

The participants, some of whom completed the survey, received certificates.

The phrase some of whom refers back to participants.

Within that phrase, whom acts as the object of of.

Breaking Down the Grammar Structure

The pattern looks like this:

Noun + some of whom + additional information

Examples:

• The athletes, some of whom trained abroad, competed successfully.
• The candidates, some of whom held advanced degrees, impressed the committee.
• The volunteers, some of whom worked weekends, received awards.

Understanding the Relative Clause

The phrase some of whom introduces a nonessential relative clause.

These clauses provide extra information without changing the sentence’s main meaning.

Sentence Breakdown: How “Some of Whom” Works

Let’s analyze a sentence carefully.

Example Sentence

The researchers, some of whom specialized in genetics, published the study.

Identifying the Antecedent

The antecedent is:

researchers

This noun provides the reference point for whom.

Finding the Object of the Preposition

Within the phrase:

some of whom

the pronoun whom receives the action of the preposition of.

Visual Grammar Diagram

The researchers

       │

       ▼

some of whom

       │

       ▼

specialized in genetics

Because the pronoun follows of, grammar requires whom rather than who.

When Is “Who” Correct Instead of “Whom”?

Understanding whom becomes easier when you know where who belongs.

Using “Who” as the Subject

Use who when the pronoun performs the action.

Examples:

• The employee who solved the problem received praise.
• The teacher who inspired students retired.
• The athlete who broke the record became famous.

Relative Clauses With Subject Functions

Notice what happens here:

The student who won the competition received a scholarship.

The student performs the action of winning.

Therefore, who is correct.

Examples of Correct “Who” Usage

• The chef who prepared dinner received compliments.
• The author who wrote the novel won an award.
• The engineer who designed the bridge received recognition.

Comparing Similar Sentences

Correct With Who	Correct With Whom
The students who studied succeeded.	The students, some of whom studied abroad, succeeded.
The employee who arrived early helped.	The employees, many of whom arrived early, helped.

Why “Some of Who” Is Usually Incorrect

The Grammar Problem

The phrase violates the object requirement created by of.

Since of requires an object pronoun, grammar calls for whom.

Why It Appears in Informal Speech

People naturally simplify language.

That’s why phrases like:

• Some of who
• Many of who
• Most of who

appear in conversation.

However, professional editors generally correct them.

Cases Where Writers Accidentally Use It

Common situations include:

• Blog writing
• Social media posts
• Student essays
• Marketing copy
• Informal emails

What Editors and Style Guides Recommend

Most major style guides continue to recommend:

✅ Some of whom

❌ Some of who

for formal and edited writing.

The Easiest Ways to Choose Between “Who” and “Whom”

The He/Him Test

Replace the pronoun mentally.

Example:

Would you say:

• Some of he?
• Some of him?

Because him sounds correct, choose whom.

The She/Her Test

Try the same process.

Would you say:

• Some of she?
• Some of her?

The answer is her, which points toward whom.

The Subject/Object Test

Ask:

Is the pronoun performing the action or receiving it?

If receiving it, use whom.

The Preposition Rule

Words such as:

• of
• to
• for
• with
• from
• by

typically signal the need for whom.

Quick Decision Checklist

✔ Follows a preposition? Use whom.

✔ Acts as an object? Use whom.

✔ Acts as a subject? Use who.

Common Patterns That Use “Whom”

Several structures follow the same grammar rule.

Some of Whom

• The guests, some of whom stayed overnight, enjoyed the event.

Many of Whom

• The graduates, many of whom received honors, attended the ceremony.

Most of Whom

• The employees, most of whom worked remotely, joined online.

None of Whom

• The applicants, none of whom met the requirements, advanced.

Several of Whom

• The athletes, several of whom won medals, returned home.

Few of Whom

• The participants, few of whom had prior experience, completed the task.

Examples Table

Expression	Example
Some of whom	Some of whom attended were experts.
Many of whom	Many of whom volunteered were students.
Most of whom	Most of whom completed training succeeded.
None of whom	None of whom qualified advanced.

Some of Which: The Non-Human Equivalent

When to Use “Which” Instead of “Whom”

Use which for things, objects, animals, ideas, or concepts.

Use whom for people.

Human vs Non-Human References

Human Reference	Non-Human Reference
Some of whom	Some of which
Many of whom	Many of which
Most of whom	Most of which

Examples of Correct Usage

• The books, some of which were rare, sold quickly.
• The buildings, many of which were historic, remain standing.
• The vehicles, most of which were electric, performed well.

Common Errors to Avoid

Never write:

The books, some of whom were damaged.

Books are not people.

Use which instead.

Modern English: Is “Whom” Still Necessary?

How Usage Has Changed Over Time

Modern English uses whom less frequently than earlier generations did.

However, it hasn’t disappeared.

Formal Writing vs Casual Conversation

In speech, many people replace whom with who.

In writing, especially professional writing, editors still prefer grammatical accuracy.

What Modern Style Guides Say

Most respected style guides continue to recognize whom as correct when functioning as an object.

When Using “Whom” Improves Clarity

Using whom can make complex sentences easier to understand.

It signals grammatical relationships instantly.

Common Mistakes Writers Make

Using “Who” After a Preposition

Incorrect:

The guests, some of who arrived early, waited.

Correct:

The guests, some of whom arrived early, waited.

Avoiding “Whom” Entirely

Some writers remove whom from every sentence.

That strategy creates errors.

Overusing “Whom”

The opposite mistake also occurs.

Not every sentence needs whom.

Misidentifying Subjects and Objects

This remains the most common cause of confusion.

Quick Grammar Reference Guide

Key Rules to Remember

• Use who for subjects.
• Use whom for objects.
• After of, use whom when referring to people.
• Use which for things.

Grammar Cheat Sheet

Situation	Correct Choice
Subject	Who
Object	Whom
After “of”	Whom
Referring to things	Which
Some of ___	Whom

FAQs

1. What is correct: some of whom or some of who?

The correct form is “some of whom.” The word whom is used because it acts as the object of the preposition of. In standard English grammar, “some of who” is considered incorrect in formal writing.

2. Why do people say “some of who” instead of “some of whom”?

People often use “some of who” because modern spoken English has largely dropped the word whom. In everyday conversation, “who” feels more natural and easier to say, so it replaces “whom” even when it is grammatically required.

3. Is “some of whom” still used in modern English?

Yes, “some of whom” is still widely used in formal writing, academic texts, journalism, and professional communication. While spoken English may avoid “whom,” written English still relies on it for grammatical accuracy and clarity.

4. Can I use “some of who” in informal writing?

In casual writing such as text messages or social media posts, people sometimes use “some of who.” However, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. If you want your writing to sound polished or professional, you should use “some of whom.”

5. What is the difference between “some of whom” and “some of which”?

The difference depends on what you are referring to:

• Some of whom → used for people
  Example: The students, some of whom passed, celebrated.
• Some of which → used for things or objects
  Example: The books, some of which were rare, sold quickly.

6. How do I quickly know whether to use who or whom?

A simple trick is to replace the word with he/him:

• If him fits → use whom
• If he fits → use who

Since you would say “some of him” (not correct, but grammatically aligned with object form), the correct structure becomes “some of whom.”

7. Do native speakers still use “whom” in everyday speech?

Most native speakers rarely use whom in casual conversation today. However, it still appears in formal speech, writing, legal documents, academic work, and edited publications where grammatical precision is important.

8. Why is “some of whom” considered grammatically correct?

Because whom functions as the object of a preposition. In the phrase “some of whom,” the word of requires an object pronoun. That is why grammar rules demand whom instead of who.

9. What is the easiest way to remember the rule?

Remember this simple pattern:

• Who = subject (does the action)
• Whom = object (receives the action)
• After prepositions like of, to, with, for, use whom

So in “some of whom,” the preposition of makes whom necessary.

10. Is it a serious mistake to use “some of who”?

In casual conversation, it is not a major issue because people understand your meaning. However, in academic writing, professional communication, or published content, it is considered a grammatical error and should be corrected to “some of whom.”

Conclusion

The debate between some of whom and some of who becomes surprisingly simple once you understand one key principle: who functions as a subject, while whom functions as an object. Because the phrase contains the preposition of, standard English grammar requires whom, making some of whom the correct choice in formal and professional writing.

Although many native speakers use some of who in casual conversation, editors, teachers, publishers, and style guides continue to prefer some of whom. Using the correct form improves clarity, demonstrates grammatical accuracy, and helps your writing appear more polished.

Whenever you’re unsure, remember the simplest rule of all: if the phrase contains of whom, many of whom, most of whom, none of whom, or a similar construction, whom is almost always the right answer. Master that pattern and you’ll avoid one of the most common grammar mistakes in English writing.