Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I am no expert on grammar but I still use "whom" rather than who when the objective form is called for. I notice that the use of 'whom' seems to be dying out, even among professional communicators. I notice that in a lot of advertising, for example, 'who' is always used. It doesn't really bother me. Years ago I recall William F. Buckley saying that he accepted the use of 'who' as objective (but not 'whom' when the subjective was required).
I was surprised that even a professional educator declines to use 'whom.' In fact the only people I know of who still seem to use it are print journalists, and I like that they do. I once got a chance to ask 'Grammar Girl' Mignon Fogarty (whom I like(haha)) about this. She said that she still greatly preferred that 'whom' be used where appropriate, and did not seem at all pleased that it is dying out.
So what is your opinion about the use of 'whom?' Do you use it? If so do you look down upon those who don't. If not, how do you feel about those who do? Does it come off as snobby?
Use whom only in the objective case, and, when it doubt, just use "who."
For example,
To whom would you like to speak?
For whom is this message?
You are the child of whom?
I think the quoted example doesn't hold because it's part of the phrase "who they are." No one says "whom they are," do they?
I still use whom, when it is called for, as it is second nature to me. Language is constantly evolving, but no publisher has thrown whom out the window yet. (Mine certainly hasn’t!)
....So what is your opinion about the use of 'whom?' Do you use it? If so do you look down upon those who don't. If not, how do you feel about those who do? Does it come off as snobby?
I use it, but as someone else has remarked I am more aware of my use when I write. I do use it when I speak - that is how I was taught, it's a habit - and a couple of people over the years have remarked on it as they felt it was "odd."
Someone mentioned the disappearance of the subjunctive. I was raised in a family where the original family language (and their parallel use of English) had no subjunctive. So, we always used the conditional as that was the inherited language pattern.
Now that I live in a country where there is a widely used subjunctive mood, and I find that it has inserted itself into my English usage.
Who is singular. Whom is plural. Substitute them worm "them" or "they".
Give it to whomever wants it.
If THEY want it, give it to them.
To whom it may concern
This is to everybody (i.e. "them")
It does not matter to whom it is given...
Give it to somebody (in the group, one of THEM).
Versus...
Who did this?
Which one is responsible?
We will punish whoever did this.
One person is guilty!
A subtle difference but an important one.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
