If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence, wondering whether to write some of whom or some of who, you’re not alone. Some of Whom or Some of Who? Here’s the Correct Version (With Examples) is a question many writers, English learners, and even native speakers ask because both phrases sound similar. The good news is that there is one simple rule that makes the correct choice easy to understand.
This guide will clearly explain the difference between the two expressions using real-life examples and basic grammar. You’ll learn why whom is the correct version after a preposition, how English grammar treats objective and subjective pronouns, and how to avoid common mistakes in both formal English and everyday usage. Once you know the logic, you’ll never second-guess yourself again.
From my experience editing and reviewing writing, I’ve noticed that this grammar choice often causes confusion because modern English uses whom less often in speech. However, formal writing still demands the correct pronoun case. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to use the right form naturally, improve your writing credibility, and write with greater confidence every time.
The Short Answer
Which Is Correct?
The correct expression in standard English is:
Some of whom ✔
The expression:
Some of who ✘
is generally considered grammatically incorrect because the word of is a preposition, and traditional English grammar requires the object pronoun “whom” after a preposition.
Compare these examples:
✔ The committee interviewed ten candidates, some of whom had previous management experience.
✘ The committee interviewed ten candidates, some of who had previous management experience.
The first sentence follows standard English grammar, while the second does not.
If you’re writing:
- essays
- business documents
- academic papers
- professional emails
- newspaper articles
you should always use some of whom.
What Does “Some of Whom” Mean?
Simple Definition
The phrase “some of whom” introduces additional information about part of a previously mentioned group of people.
It connects two ideas without repeating the noun.
For example:
I invited twenty guests, some of whom arrived early.
The phrase some of whom means:
Some of the twenty guests arrived early.
Instead of repeating guests, English uses the relative pronoun whom to make the sentence smoother.
Breaking Down the Phrase
Let’s examine each word.
| Word | Function |
| Some | Refers to a portion of a group |
| Of | Preposition showing relationship |
| Whom | Relative pronoun referring to people |
Together, the phrase means:
A number of the people already mentioned.
Why Writers Use It
English speakers use some of whom because it makes sentences more concise.
Instead of writing:
I met fifteen engineers. Some of the engineers specialized in robotics.
we can write:
I met fifteen engineers, some of whom specialized in robotics.
The second version is smoother and avoids unnecessary repetition.
Why “Some of Whom” Is Correct
The Role of the Preposition “Of”
One of the easiest ways to understand this rule is to look at the word of.
The word of is a preposition.
In traditional English grammar, prepositions are followed by object pronouns, not subject pronouns.
Examples:
- to him
- with her
- for them
- about us
- between me and you (though “you and me” is often preferred stylistically)
The same rule applies to who and whom.
After of, English requires:
whom
not
who
Relative Pronouns Matter
The word whom is an object relative pronoun.
It refers back to the noun already mentioned.
Example:
The students, some of whom received scholarships, attended the ceremony.
Here:
- students = antecedent
- whom = refers back to students
- some = part of the students
Everything follows standard grammar.
Formal Written English
Professional writers continue to use some of whom because it is widely accepted in:
- newspapers
- academic journals
- university writing
- legal documents
- professional reports
- published books
Using some of whom helps maintain grammatical accuracy and a formal writing style.
Why “Some of Who” Is Usually Incorrect
Who Is a Subject Pronoun
The simplest explanation is that who functions primarily as a subject pronoun.
It performs the action.
Examples:
- Who called you?
- Who wrote this report?
- Who wants pizza?
In each sentence, who is the subject.
Whom Is an Object Pronoun
By contrast, whom functions as an object.
Examples:
- Whom did you call?
- To whom was the letter addressed?
- The employee whom I hired has started work.
Because of requires an object, whom is the correct choice.
Why People Say “Some of Who”
Despite the grammar rule, you’ll occasionally hear:
- some of who
- many of who
- several of who
This happens because:
- modern spoken English often favors who
- many speakers rarely use whom
- conversational grammar is generally less strict
However, most grammar guides still recommend some of whom in careful writing.
The Grammar Behind “Whom”
Understanding the difference between who and whom makes this topic much easier.
Who vs. Whom
| Word | Function | Example |
| Who | Subject pronoun | Who answered the phone? |
| Whom | Object pronoun | Whom did you invite? |
A useful memory trick is:
- Who performs the action.
- Whom receives the action.
Examples:
Who
Who organized the meeting?
The person organizes.
Whom
Whom did the manager promote?
The person receives the promotion.
Why “Some of Whom” Uses the Object Form
Consider this sentence:
We hired twelve consultants, some of whom specialize in cybersecurity.
The phrase refers to:
some of the consultants
Since of is a preposition, the object form whom is required.
This rule remains the same regardless of the size of the group.
Examples:
- many of whom
- several of whom
- none of whom
- both of whom
- each of whom
- one of whom
Notice that every expression uses whom, never who.
When to Use “Some of Whom”
The phrase appears in many kinds of writing.
Academic Writing
Researchers frequently use some of whom to introduce additional information.
Example:
The study included 250 participants, some of whom had previous medical training.
This construction keeps writing concise and professional.
Journalism
News articles often use the phrase when discussing groups of people.
Example:
Emergency crews rescued dozens of residents, some of whom required immediate medical attention.
Business Writing
Professional reports frequently contain similar structures.
Example:
The company interviewed forty applicants, some of whom possessed international experience.
Legal Writing
Legal documents often rely on precise relative clauses.
Example:
The witnesses, some of whom signed sworn statements, appeared before the court.
Everyday Formal Communication
Even in emails or presentations, some of whom sounds natural.
Example:
We welcomed fifteen new employees, some of whom relocated from overseas.
Examples of “Some of Whom”
The best way to master this phrase is by seeing it in context.
Education
- The professor taught sixty students, some of whom received scholarships.
- The class included exchange students, some of whom spoke four languages.
- The university admitted hundreds of applicants, some of whom earned full financial aid.
Workplace
- The manager interviewed twelve candidates, some of whom had leadership experience.
- Our company hired several graduates, some of whom completed internships with us.
- The conference welcomed international speakers, some of whom had published bestselling books.
Family
- My grandparents had eight grandchildren, some of whom now live abroad.
- We invited all our cousins, some of whom traveled hundreds of miles.
- The family gathered for dinner, some of whom hadn’t met in years.
Sports
- The coach selected twenty players, some of whom had represented the country before.
- The tournament featured young athletes, some of whom later became Olympic champions.
- Fans greeted the team, some of whom waited outside for hours.
Community
- Volunteers cleaned the beach, some of whom returned the following weekend.
- The charity recognized dozens of donors, some of whom wished to remain anonymous.
- The city honored local heroes, some of whom had served for more than thirty years.
Comparison Table
The following table summarizes the correct usage.
| Expression | Grammatically Correct? | Formal English | Informal Speech |
| Some of whom | ✔ Yes | ✔ Standard | ✔ Common |
| Some of who | ✘ Usually No | ✘ Avoid | Sometimes heard |
| Many of whom | ✔ Yes | ✔ Standard | ✔ Common |
| Several of whom | ✔ Yes | ✔ Standard | ✔ Common |
| None of whom | ✔ Yes | ✔ Standard | ✔ Common |
The pattern is consistent: after of, whom is the standard choice in careful English.
“Some of Whom” vs. Similar Expressions
The phrase “some of whom” belongs to a larger group of expressions that use whom after a preposition. Once you understand the pattern, it becomes much easier to recognize and use similar constructions correctly.
Here are some common examples:
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
| Some of whom | A portion of the people mentioned | The guests, some of whom arrived early, enjoyed the event. |
| Many of whom | A large number of the people mentioned | The volunteers, many of whom were students, helped clean the park. |
| Several of whom | More than a few people in the group | The speakers, several of whom were award winners, shared their experiences. |
| Both of whom | Two people already mentioned | My sisters, both of whom are doctors, work at the same hospital. |
| None of whom | No one in the group | The applicants, none of whom met the requirements, were rejected. |
| One of whom | A single person from the group | The brothers, one of whom lives abroad, visited last week. |
| Each of whom | Every individual in the group | The finalists, each of whom completed the challenge, received certificates. |
Notice the consistent pattern:
Quantity + of + whom
This structure is widely accepted in formal and standard English.
Common Mistakes
Many writers make the same mistakes when using some of whom. Learning to recognize them will improve both your grammar and writing style.
Using “Some of Who”
This is the most common error.
❌ The employees, some of who worked remotely, attended the meeting.
✔ The employees, some of whom worked remotely, attended the meeting.
Using “Whom” Without an Antecedent
The word whom must refer to people who have already been mentioned.
Incorrect:
❌ Some of whom attended the meeting.
Readers immediately ask:
Some of whom?
Correct:
✔ We invited twenty employees, some of whom attended the meeting.
The noun employees provides the antecedent.
Using “Whom” for Things
Whom refers only to people.
Incorrect:
❌ I bought several books, some of whom were expensive.
Correct:
✔ I bought several books, some of which were expensive.
Remember:
- Whom → people
- Which → things and animals (in most cases)
Forgetting the Comma
The phrase some of whom usually introduces a nonrestrictive relative clause, which should be separated with a comma.
Correct:
✔ The students, some of whom earned perfect scores, received awards.
Incorrect:
❌ The students some of whom earned perfect scores received awards.
The comma helps readers understand that the clause adds extra information rather than identifying which students are being discussed.
Formal vs. Informal English
The distinction between who and whom has become less strict in everyday speech, but it still matters in many forms of writing.
Formal English
In formal contexts, always use some of whom.
Examples include:
- Academic essays
- Research papers
- Books
- Newspapers
- Professional reports
- Legal documents
- Business proposals
Example:
The committee reviewed twenty applications, some of whom were submitted after the deadline.
Informal English
In casual conversation, many native speakers simplify grammar.
You may hear:
- some of who
- many of who
Although these expressions occur in speech, they are generally avoided in edited writing.
If your goal is accurate English, stick with some of whom.
Modern Usage Trends
Modern English has gradually reduced the use of whom in direct questions.
For example:
Traditional:
Whom did you invite?
Common modern English:
Who did you invite?
However, after prepositions—especially in expressions like some of whom—whom remains the standard choice in careful writing.
Can You Ever Say “Some of Who”?
Technically, you may hear native speakers say “some of who” in casual conversation. Language naturally evolves, and spoken English often relaxes traditional grammar rules.
For example:
I met a group of people, some of who already knew each other.
Although many people say this informally, most grammar references, editors, teachers, and style guides recommend avoiding it in writing.
Why Is It Still Considered Incorrect?
The main reason is grammatical consistency.
The word of is a preposition, and standard English uses the object pronoun after prepositions.
That object pronoun is whom.
Therefore:
✔ some of whom
✘ some of who
If you’re writing anything intended for publication, school, work, or professional communication, some of whom is the safer and more widely accepted choice.
Read More: What Does “Hi There” Mean and Should You Use It?
Tips for Remembering the Difference
Grammar becomes much easier when you use simple memory techniques.
Remember the Preposition Rule
Whenever you see:
- of
- to
- with
- for
- by
- about
think:
Object pronoun follows.
That means:
- of whom
- to whom
- with whom
Replace the Phrase
Expand the sentence.
Example:
The players, some of whom were injured…
becomes
Some of the players were injured.
If the expanded sentence makes sense, you’re using the phrase correctly.
Think of Similar Expressions
Once you learn these patterns, they all become familiar:
- many of whom
- several of whom
- none of whom
- each of whom
- both of whom
They all follow exactly the same grammatical structure.
Read Professional Writing
You’ll regularly encounter some of whom in:
- Newspapers
- Books
- Academic articles
- Magazines
- Professional reports
Reading well-edited English helps reinforce the correct pattern naturally.
More Example Sentences
Here are additional examples from different contexts.
Education
- The seminar welcomed fifty teachers, some of whom had over twenty years of experience.
- The graduates, some of whom earned honors, attended the ceremony.
- The students completed several projects, some of whom presented their findings internationally. (Incorrect because “students” perform the action? Actually the clause is fine: “some of whom presented…” refers to students. Correct.)
Healthcare
- The hospital treated dozens of patients, some of whom required surgery.
- The volunteers assisted elderly residents, some of whom lived alone.
- Researchers interviewed participants, some of whom had previously received treatment.
Business
- The company promoted several employees, some of whom joined only last year.
- Investors attended the meeting, some of whom represented international firms.
- Our clients, some of whom have worked with us for over a decade, attended the conference.
Travel
- We met tourists, some of whom had traveled through more than twenty countries.
- The guide welcomed visitors, some of whom spoke multiple languages.
- The passengers, some of whom missed their connections, received hotel vouchers.
Community
- The organization recognized volunteers, some of whom had served for over ten years.
- Local artists displayed their work, some of whom donated proceeds to charity.
- Residents attended the town hall meeting, some of whom raised important concerns.
Conclusion:
Choosing between some of whom and some of who becomes easy once you know the grammar rule. Since of is a preposition, it requires the objective case, making some of whom the correct choice in standard English. While modern English often drops whom in casual speech, it is still the preferred form in formal writing. Remembering this simple rule will help you avoid common mistakes, write more clearly, and improve your confidence in both academic and professional communication.
FAQs:
1. Is “some of whom” grammatically correct?
Yes. Some of whom is grammatically correct because whom is the objective form of who, and it follows the preposition of.
2. Is it ever correct to say “some of who”?
In standard English, some of who is considered incorrect. Although you may hear it in casual conversation, some of whom is the correct form, especially in formal writing.
3. Why do we use whom instead of who after of?
The word of is a preposition, and prepositions take an object. Since whom is the object form of who, it is the correct choice after of.
4. Is whom still used in modern English?
Yes, but less often in everyday speech. However, whom is still widely used and expected in formal, academic, and professional writing.
5. How can I remember when to use whom?
A simple trick is to replace whom with him or them. If him or them fits naturally, then whom is the correct choice. If he or they fits, use who instead.
