Meta Title: Some of Whom vs Some of Who: Meaning, Rules, Examples & Grammar Guide
Meta Description: Learn the difference between some of whom and some of who with simple grammar rules, examples, common mistakes, and practical writing tips.
Some of Whom vs Some of Who
English grammar can be confusing, especially when choosing between similar-looking expressions. One of the most common questions among students, writers, and English learners is whether to use some of whom or some of who.
The short answer is simple: “some of whom” is grammatically correct, while “some of who” is almost always incorrect in standard English.
However, understanding why one expression is correct helps you avoid mistakes in essays, business writing, academic papers, and everyday communication. This guide explains everything in an easy-to-understand way, including grammar rules, examples, common errors, and practical writing tips.
Understanding the Difference
Both expressions appear to introduce additional information about a group of people. The confusion happens because both who and whom are relative pronouns.
The difference lies in their grammatical function.
- Who functions as the subject of a clause.
- Whom functions as the object of a verb or preposition.
Because the word of is a preposition, the correct object form is whom.
Correct
- The students, some of whom received scholarships, attended the ceremony.
- I met several researchers, some of whom specialize in artificial intelligence.
Incorrect
- The students, some of who received scholarships…
- I met several researchers, some of who specialize in AI…
Why “Some of Whom” Is Correct
The phrase works because whom serves as the object of the preposition of.
Think of the structure like this:
some + of + whom
The preposition of always requires an object.
Examples:
- Several guests arrived, some of whom stayed overnight.
- The employees, many of whom work remotely, attended the meeting.
- We interviewed ten candidates, three of whom accepted the offer.
Notice that the pattern remains consistent regardless of the quantity.
Understanding Who vs. Whom
Many learners struggle because modern spoken English often replaces whom with who. While this is common in conversation, formal writing still follows traditional grammar.
WordGrammar FunctionExampleWhoSubjectWho called you?WhomObjectWhom did you call?WhosePossessionThe writer whose book won the awardWhoeverSubjectWhoever arrives first wins.WhomeverObjectGive the prize to whomever you choose.
A simple trick:
Replace the pronoun with he or him.
- If he fits → use who.
- If him fits → use whom.
Example:
I invited several friends.
I invited them.
Some of them attended.
Therefore:
Some of whom attended.
When to Use This Expression
The phrase is commonly used after mentioning a group of people and then adding extra information.
Common situations include:
Academic writing
- The participants, some of whom were graduate students, completed the survey.
Business writing
- Our clients, many of whom operate internationally, appreciated the update.
Journalism
- Several witnesses, some of whom requested anonymity, spoke to reporters.
Essays
- The novel introduces numerous characters, several of whom undergo significant changes.
Formal emails
- We interviewed twelve applicants, four of whom met every requirement.
Common Sentence Patterns
The construction appears in many similar forms.
Examples include:
- some of whom
- many of whom
- several of whom
- most of whom
- all of whom
- none of whom
- few of whom
- one of whom
- two of whom
- each of whom
Examples:
- The team has twenty members, most of whom have international experience.
- She invited ten relatives, none of whom declined.
- We hired six interns, two of whom later became managers.
Real-Life Examples
Understanding grammar becomes easier when you see authentic sentence patterns.
Education
The class included thirty students, five of whom earned perfect scores.
Workplace
The company promoted twelve employees, many of whom had completed leadership training.
Sports
The coach selected twenty players, some of whom had represented the country before.
Family
My cousins visited us, most of whom had never seen the ocean.
Healthcare
The hospital treated hundreds of patients, many of whom recovered quickly.
Technology
The conference featured dozens of speakers, several of whom are industry experts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many grammar mistakes occur because learners mix spoken English with formal writing.
Mistake 1
❌ Some of who
✔ Some of whom
Mistake 2
Using who after a preposition.
❌ Many of who
✔ Many of whom
Mistake 3
Omitting commas.
Correct:
The employees, some of whom work remotely, attended the meeting.
The commas show that the phrase provides extra information.
Mistake 4
Confusing restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses.
Compare:
The students who studied passed the test.
The students, some of whom studied abroad, passed the test.
The meanings are different because the grammar serves different purposes.
Tips for Remembering the Rule
Remember these simple guidelines.
Think about the preposition
Whenever you see:
- of
- to
- for
- with
- by
the object form is usually required.
Use the Him Test
Ask yourself:
Would you say him or he?
Example:
Some of him → object
Therefore:
Some of whom
Learn Common Patterns
Instead of memorizing grammar rules alone, memorize complete phrases.
Examples:
- many of whom
- most of whom
- several of whom
- none of whom
- all of whom
Native speakers frequently use these expressions in formal writing.
Benefits of Using the Correct Form
Choosing the correct relative pronoun improves both grammar and writing quality.
Benefits include:
- Stronger academic writing
- More professional communication
- Better examination performance
- Improved readability
- Greater grammatical accuracy
- Increased confidence in English
- Better editing skills
- More natural formal writing
Small grammar improvements often make writing appear significantly more polished.
Related Grammar Concepts
Learning this topic becomes easier when you understand related grammar ideas.
Relative Pronouns
Examples include:
- who
- whom
- whose
- which
- that
Relative Clauses
These clauses describe a noun.
Example:
The engineers, some of whom have over twenty years of experience, attended the meeting.
Prepositions
Words such as:
- of
- with
- by
- from
- to
often require an object.
Formal vs Informal English
Informal speech often ignores whom, but formal writing usually preserves it.
Formal:
- many of whom
Informal speech:
- many who
For examinations, reports, academic papers, and professional documents, using the formal structure is generally the safer choice.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct option.
- The guests, some of (who / whom) stayed overnight, enjoyed the party.
Answer: whom
- We interviewed eight candidates, three of (who / whom) accepted the offer.
Reply: whom
- The teachers, many of (who / whom) have doctoral degrees, attended the seminar.
Answer: whom
Rewrite the sentence correctly.
Incorrect:
The players, some of who were injured, missed the tournament.
Correct:
The players, some of whom were injured, missed the tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which expression is grammatically correct?
The correct expression is some of whom because whom functions as the object of the preposition of.
2. Is the alternative ever acceptable?
In standard English grammar, it is considered incorrect. Although some speakers use it casually, it should be avoided in formal writing.
3. Why does English use “whom” here?
The pronoun acts as the object of a preposition, and the objective case is required.
4. Is “whom” becoming outdated?
It is less common in everyday conversation, but it remains important in academic, legal, journalistic, and professional writing.
5. Can I simply use “who” instead?
Only when who functions as the subject of its clause—not after the preposition of in this construction.
6. Does punctuation matter?
Yes. This phrase usually appears inside a nonrestrictive relative clause and is typically set off with commas.
7. What similar expressions follow the same rule?
Common patterns include:
- many of whom
- all of whom
- none of whom
- several of whom
- most of whom
- few of whom
8. How can I remember the rule easily?
Use the he/him test. If him fits the sentence, use whom. Since of requires an object, whom is the correct choice in this structure.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between these two expressions is easier once you know the role of who and whom. Because of is a preposition, the object form whom is required, making some of whom the correct choice in standard English. Whether you are writing essays, emails, reports, or professional documents, using this construction correctly demonstrates grammatical accuracy and improves the clarity of your writing. By remembering the object rule, practicing common sentence patterns, and applying the simple he/him test, you can confidently choose the correct form every time.