🤔 Some of Whom or Some of Who? The Grammar Rule Everyone Gets Wrong

Ever stumbled while writing “some of whom” and thought, “Wait… or is it some of who?”

You’re not alone. Even native English speakers hesitate before typing this phrase. The truth is, one of them is correct — and the other breaks a core grammar rule.

In this guide, you’ll learn why “some of whom” is right, how grammar supports it, and how to make sure you never doubt it again. Let’s make sense of this once and for all.

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Why the Confusion Between “Some of Whom” and “Some of Who” Exists

English can be slippery. Over centuries, it’s evolved — and along the way, the distinction between who and whom started to blur.

Here’s why confusion happens:

• Spoken English often ignores formal case rules.
• People use who in place of whom because whom sounds old-fashioned.
• The word of — a preposition — quietly changes the case of what follows it.

When you combine some of with who/whom, you’re entering tricky territory because grammar rules collide with speech habits.

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Grammar Refresher: The Core Rule Behind “Who” vs “Whom”

Let’s strip it down to the essentials.

Pronoun	Function	Example
Who	Subject (does the action)	Who wrote the book?
Whom	Object (receives the action)	To whom was the book dedicated?

A quick memory trick:

✅ If you can replace it with he/she, use who.
✅ If you can replace it with him/her, use whom.

Example:

• I met the man whom you mentioned. → You mentioned him.
• She’s the one who called earlier. → She called.

So “whom” is the object form, and that’s where our phrase “some of whom” comes in.

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The Role of Prepositions Before “Whom”

Prepositions (like of, to, with, for, and about) always take an object. That means what comes after them should be in the object form — and whom fits that bill perfectly.

Take these examples:

• To whom it may concern.
• With whom did you go?
• Some of whom were my friends.

In all these, the preposition (to, with, of) governs the object pronoun (whom).

Think of it like math:
Preposition + Object = Correct Sentence
→ of + whom = ✅ grammatical harmony

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“Some of Whom” Is Correct – Here’s Why

Let’s look at it grammatically.

“Some of whom” is a relative clause — a phrase that gives extra information about a group of people already mentioned.

Example:

I invited several colleagues, some of whom couldn’t attend.

Break it down:

Part	Function
I invited several colleagues	Main clause
some of whom couldn’t attend	Relative clause modifying colleagues

The preposition of requires an object. The object form of who is whom. Therefore, “some of whom” is the only correct choice.

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Sentence Dissection: How “Some of Whom” Works Grammatically

Let’s dissect this sentence:

He hired five interns, some of whom later became full-time employees.

• some → determiner referring to a portion of the group
• of → preposition requiring an object
• whom → object of of
• some of whom → introduces a relative clause adding detail about the interns

Visual Diagram

[Main Clause] → He hired five interns
        ↓
[Relative Clause] → some (of whom) later became employees

This structure is elegant and perfectly grammatical. Replacing whom with who would break the pattern because who can’t act as an object of of.

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Real-World Usage: Where You’ll See “Some of Whom”

You’ll find “some of whom” in respected publications, literature, and formal writing.

Examples:

• The students, some of whom received scholarships, excelled in their studies. — The Guardian
• He interviewed ten artists, some of whom had never exhibited before. — New York Times
• We met several travelers, some of whom were from distant countries.

It’s also common in academic writing, official reports, and professional correspondence because it maintains grammatical precision and clarity.

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“Some of Who” – Why It’s Almost Always Incorrect

Here’s the blunt truth: “some of who” is grammatically wrong in standard English.

Why? Because of needs an object, not a subject. Who is a subject pronoun, so it doesn’t belong after of.

Incorrect:

He hired several people, some of who left early. ✖️

Correct:

He hired several people, some of whom left early. ✅

However, you might hear people use “some of who” in casual speech. It’s become a byproduct of informal English, where whom sounds stiff. But in written English, especially formal or professional contexts, stick to whom.

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How to Easily Decide: Tricks for Choosing “Who” or “Whom”

Here are foolproof methods to decide between who and whom:

1. The He/Him Test

Replace the word with he or him.

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

Example:

Some of (he/him) were invited.
You’d say some of him, not some of he → therefore, some of whom.

2. The Preposition Rule

If a preposition (of, to, for, with, about) comes before it → always use whom.

3. Flowchart

Step	Question	Use
1	Does it act as subject?	who
2	Does it act as object?	whom
3	Is it governed by a preposition?	whom

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“Some of Which” and Non-Human References

While “some of whom” refers to people, “some of which” refers to things or animals.

Human Reference	Non-Human Reference
She met several teachers, some of whom were retired.	He bought five paintings, some of which were originals.

This distinction helps maintain clarity and grammatical precision.

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Examples of “Who” and “Whom” in Real Sentences

Here’s a handy reference table:

Sentence	Correct Form	Explanation
The students, some of ___ passed early, were exceptional.	whom	Object of preposition of
The author, ___ inspired me, won a prize.	who	Subject of clause
She knows the woman to ___ you spoke.	whom	Object of preposition to
They’re the ones ___ helped us.	who	Subject pronoun
I have colleagues, some of ___ are from abroad.	whom	Object of of

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Common Mistakes English Learners (and Natives) Make

Even experienced writers get tripped up. Here are the biggest pitfalls:

• Using “whom” everywhere — sounding overly formal (Whom is coming? ❌).
• Ignoring prepositions — forgetting of needs whom.
• Hypercorrection — using whom when who fits better.

Pro Tip:
You don’t have to sound stiff. In casual speech, “who” works fine most of the time — except after a preposition like of.

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Advanced Grammar Notes for Enthusiasts and Editors

For grammar lovers, whom marks the objective case — a relic of Old English. Historically, English had many case endings like Latin or German, but most faded.

Interesting facts:

• In Shakespeare’s time, whom was common and expected.
• Today, many writers drop whom unless clarity demands it.
• Style guides like The Chicago Manual of Style still encourage using whom when required, especially after prepositions.

“Use whom only when it sounds natural, but don’t fear it — it’s correct where grammar demands it.”
— Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Ed.

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Case Studies: Correct Usage in Editing and Copywriting

Case Study 1: Journalism

The team interviewed 20 participants, some of whom declined to be named.
Editors favor whom to maintain formality and grammatical correctness, especially in print media.

Case Study 2: Marketing Copy

We worked with several clients, some of whom doubled their conversions.
Professional writing uses whom because readers expect precision and clarity.

Case Study 3: Academic Paper

The researchers analyzed 50 responses, some of whom reported high satisfaction.
In academia, incorrect grammar reduces credibility. Editors will correct some of who instantly.

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Key Takeaways and Fast Grammar Reference

Here’s your quick summary:

• ✅ “Some of whom” is correct.
• ❌ “Some of who” is incorrect.
• “Whom” follows prepositions like of, to, for, with.
• Use the he/him test to decide quickly.
• Use “some of which” for things, not people.

Quick Grammar Reference Table

Phrase	Used For	Correct/Incorrect
Some of whom	People (object form)	✅ Correct
Some of who	People (subject form misused)	❌ Incorrect
Some of which	Things/animals	✅ Correct

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FAQs

1. Why do people say “some of who” if it’s wrong?

Because everyday speech simplifies grammar. People often drop whom since it feels formal, but in writing, whom remains correct after of.

2. Is “whom” still necessary in modern English?

Yes — when used after prepositions or as the object of a verb. It signals professionalism and grammatical accuracy.

3. Can I say “some of who” in informal writing?

You can, but it’s not standard. In professional or academic contexts, always use “some of whom.”

4. What about “some of that” or “some of which”?

Those are correct for non-human references. “Some of which” fits when referring to objects, ideas, or animals.

5. How do editors decide when to use whom?

They apply the preposition rule and readability test. If whom improves clarity or avoids ambiguity, they keep it.

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Final Thoughts

Mastering small details like “some of whom” may seem minor, but it elevates your writing from good to exceptional.
Think of it as polishing your sentences — a touch of precision that signals intelligence and confidence.

Next time you write about people in a group, remember:

It’s always “some of whom,” never “some of who.”

That single m in whom makes all the difference.