If you’ve ever paused while writing some of whom or some of who, you’re not alone. The confusion is common because modern spoken English often blurs the difference between who and whom. However, in standard written English, only one of these phrases is grammatically correct in most situations.

The short answer is simple: some of whom is the correct choice when referring to people after the preposition of. The word whom functions as the object of the preposition, while who functions as a subject pronoun. Understanding that single rule will help you make the right choice in essays, emails, reports, articles, and professional writing.

In this guide, you’ll learn why “some of whom” is correct, when “some of who” appears in everyday conversation, and how to recognize the difference without memorizing complicated grammar rules. You’ll also find practical examples, comparison tables, common mistakes, and simple memory tricks that make this grammar point much easier to remember.

Quick Rule: After the preposition of, use whom, not who, when referring to people.

Quick Answer: Which One Is Correct?

“Some of whom” is the grammatically correct phrase in standard English.

Because of is a preposition, English grammar requires the objective pronoun whom rather than the subject pronoun who.

Sentence	Correct?	Why?
I invited ten guests, some of whom arrived early.	✅ Correct	Whom is the object of the preposition of.
I invited ten guests, some of who arrived early.	❌ Incorrect	Who cannot function as the object of of in standard English.

Although many native speakers casually say some of who during informal conversations, professional editors, teachers, style guides, and academic writing continue to recommend some of whom.

If you’re writing for school, work, publishing, or any formal setting, some of whom is the safest and most accurate choice.

Is Some Of Whom Correct?

Yes. “Some of whom” is the standard expression in formal and edited English.

Use this phrase when you’ve already mentioned a group of people and want to describe only part of that group without starting a new sentence.

For example:

The company hired twenty interns, some of whom already had industry experience.

In this sentence:

• twenty interns is the complete group.
• some identifies only part of that group.
• of creates the relationship.
• whom refers back to interns.

This structure is common because it keeps writing concise while adding useful information.

You’ll frequently see some of whom in:

• Academic writing
• Newspapers
• Business reports
• Professional emails
• Legal documents
• Books
• Research papers

Instead of repeating the noun in a second sentence, the phrase smoothly connects related ideas, making your writing more natural and easier to read.

Is Some Of Who Ever Grammatically Correct?

In standard English, almost always no.

Many learners hear native speakers say some of who, which naturally leads them to wonder whether it’s acceptable. The confusion comes from spoken English, where many speakers replace whom with who in casual conversation.

For example:

❌ The students, some of who passed the exam, celebrated afterward.

The grammatically correct version is:

✅ The students, some of whom passed the exam, celebrated afterward.

In everyday speech, most listeners won’t notice the difference. Formal writing is different. Schools, universities, publishers, employers, and style guides still expect whom after the preposition of.

Practical Advice

• Casual conversation: You’ll often hear some of who.
• Professional writing: Always choose some of whom.
• Academic writing: Use some of whom.
• Business communication: Use some of whom.

When accuracy matters, following the standard grammar rule will make your writing clearer and more polished.

The Short Rule You Should Remember

If you only remember one grammar rule from this article, make it this one:

Use whom after a preposition such as of, to, with, for, or from.

That single guideline will help you choose the correct pronoun in most situations, including the phrase some of whom.

Here’s a quick way to think about it:

• Who acts.
• Whom receives the action or follows a preposition.

Compare these examples:

• Who called you?
• You invited whom?
• Five employees, some of whom work remotely, attended the meeting.
• The scholarship recognized several students, some of whom earned top honors.

Once you recognize of as a preposition, the correct choice becomes much easier. Instead of guessing, let the grammar guide your decision.

Memory Tip: If a pronoun comes immediately after a preposition, who is usually the correct choice.

Understanding Who vs Whom

Many grammar questions come down to one simple distinction: who and whom both refer to people, but they have different grammatical jobs.

The easiest way to choose the correct word is to identify its role in the sentence. Ask yourself whether the pronoun performs the action or receives it. Once you know that, the answer usually becomes obvious.

What Does Who Mean?

Who is a subject pronoun. It refers to the person acting in a sentence.

Examples:

• Who answered the phone?
• I know the teacher who inspired the class.
• The scientist who discovered the solution received an international award.
• Who wants to volunteer first?

In each example, who introduces the person doing something.

A Quick Test

Replace who with he, she, or they.

If the sentence still sounds natural, who is the correct choice.

Test	Result
He arrived early.	✔ Subject
Who arrived early?	✔ Correct
They organized the event.	✔ Subject
Who organized the event?	✔ Correct

This simple substitution works because he, she, and they are also subject pronouns.

What Does Whom Mean?

Whom is an object pronoun. It refers to the person receiving the action or following a preposition.

Examples:

• Whom did you invite?
• The manager, whom everyone respected, retired last month.
• The travelers, some of whom were exhausted, checked into the hotel.
• To whom should I address the letter?

In each sentence, whom functions as the object rather than the subject.

The Him/Her Test

Replace whom with him, her, or them.

If the replacement sounds correct, whom is the right choice.

Test	Result
You invited him.	✔ Object
Whom did you invite?	✔ Correct
I spoke with her.	✔ Object
With whom did you speak?	✔ Correct

This test is one of the quickest and most reliable ways to check your grammar.

Editor’s Tip: Instead of memorizing every rule about who and whom, learn the he/him test. Professional editors still use this technique because it’s simple, accurate, and easy to apply.

Subject vs Object: The Core Difference

Understanding the difference between subjects and objects is the key to mastering who and whom.

A subject acts, while an object receives that action or follows a preposition.

Subject Pronouns	Object Pronouns
Who	Whom
He	Him
She	Her
They	Them
We	Us

Notice the pattern. English changes pronouns based on their grammatical role.

Compare these examples:

Subject

Who wrote the report?

Here, who acts.

Object

To whom did you send the report?

Here, whom follows the preposition to, so the objective form is required.

The same principle explains why we write:

✅ some of whom

instead of

❌ some of who

Once you recognize this pattern, choosing the correct pronoun becomes much more natural.

Why Many Native English Speakers Avoid Whom

If whom is grammatically correct, why do so many native speakers rarely use it?

The answer is simple: spoken English changes faster than written English.

In everyday conversation, many people replace whom with who because it sounds more natural and conversational.

For example, you may hear:

• Who did you call?
• I met several people, some of whom were visiting from Canada.

Although these examples are common in casual speech, they don’t follow the conventions of formal written English.

Professional editors still expect whom in situations such as:

• Academic papers
• Business reports
• Legal documents
• Government publications
• Newspapers
• Books
• Professional emails

Knowing the difference doesn’t mean you must use whom in every conversation. Instead, it helps you adjust your language to match your audience.

If you’re chatting with friends, informal grammar is rarely a problem. If you’re writing an essay, publishing an article, or sending an important email, using whom correctly demonstrates attention to detail and strengthens your credibility.

Expert Insight: Many experienced editors draft naturally first and review grammar afterward. During editing, they simply check whether a pronoun follows a preposition. If it does, whom is often the correct choice.

Why Some of Whom Is the Correct Phrase

“Some of whom” is correct because whom functions as the object of the preposition of. This isn’t an arbitrary grammar rule. It follows a consistent pattern found throughout standard English. Once you understand how prepositions and pronouns work together, the phrase becomes easy to recognize and use correctly.

Let’s break the structure down step by step.

How the Preposition Of Changes the Pronoun

Small words often carry big responsibilities in English grammar, and of is a perfect example. Although it looks simple, it determines which pronoun should follow.

A preposition connects words and shows relationships between them. When a pronoun comes after a preposition, English normally requires the objective case.

Consider these common expressions:

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

Notice the pattern. Every pronoun following a preposition appears in its object form.

Now compare these sentences:

✅ The museum welcomed fifty visitors, some of whom traveled from overseas.

❌ The museum welcomed fifty visitors, some of who traveled from overseas.

Because whom follows the preposition of, it is the only grammatically correct option in formal English.

Quick Rule: If a pronoun immediately follows a preposition, the objective form is usually required.

Why Whom Functions as the Object

The phrase some of whom works because every word has a specific grammatical role.

Take this sentence:

The committee interviewed twelve applicants, some of whom accepted the offer.

Here’s how the phrase functions:

• Applicants is the original group.
• Some identifies only part of that group.
• Of connects the smaller group to the larger one.
• Whom refers back to the applicants.

Although accepted is the verb inside the relative clause, whom remains the object of the preposition of.

That’s the grammatical relationship that makes some of whom correct.

Understanding this structure is much more useful than memorizing a rule because you’ll recognize the same pattern in many other expressions, including many of whom, most of whom, and all of whom.

Breaking Down the Grammar Step by Step

When a sentence feels complicated, breaking it into smaller pieces often reveals the answer.

Consider this example:

I met ten researchers, some of whom specialize in renewable energy.

Here’s what each part does.

Part	Function
ten researchers	Antecedent (the original group)
some	Quantifier
of	Preposition
whom	Object of the preposition
specialize	Verb of the relative clause

Although whom is the object of of, it also introduces a nonrestrictive relative clause that adds extra information about the researchers.

This construction helps writers avoid repetition. Instead of creating another sentence, they can attach useful information directly to the original noun.

For example:

Less natural:

The company hired twenty interns. Some of the interns already had experience.

More natural:

The company hired twenty interns, some of whom already had experience.

The second version is smoother, more concise, and easier to read.

Sentence Diagram: How the Phrase Works

Visualizing the structure makes the relationship much easier to understand.

Researchers

      │

      ▼

     Some

       │

      of

       │

     whom

       │

 specialize in renewable energy

The phrase some of whom points back to researchers and introduces additional information without interrupting the flow of the sentence.

You’ll see this pattern frequently in:

• Academic writing
• Newspapers
• Business reports
• Legal documents
• Research papers
• Professionally edited books

Experienced writers rely on this construction because it communicates more information in fewer words while maintaining grammatical accuracy.

Writing Tip: Whenever you mention a group of people and want to describe only part of that group, some of whom is often the most natural and concise choice.

When Can You Use Some of Who?

In standard written English, rarely. However, you may hear some of who in everyday conversation because spoken English is generally less formal than written English.

Understanding why people say it is just as important as knowing when not to use it.

Rare Situations Where It May Appear

Although grammar references recommend some of whom, some of who occasionally appears in informal speech.

For example:

I met several neighbors, some of whom are new to the area.

Many native speakers say sentences like this without realizing they conflict with traditional grammar.

In edited writing, the sentence becomes:

I met several neighbors, some of whom are new to the area.

Another exception involves quoted dialogue.

When writing fiction, interviews, or transcripts, it’s usually better to preserve the speaker’s original wording rather than correcting every grammatical mistake.

Example:

“I met a lot of people, some of whom I’d never seen before,” Jake said.

Here, the wording reflects the speaker’s natural voice rather than formal grammar.

Why It Sounds Incorrect in Standard English

The problem isn’t the meaning. Readers understand what some of who means.

The issue is grammatical consistency.

Because of is a preposition, English expects an object pronoun, not a subject pronoun.

Compare these expressions.

Incorrect	Correct
some of who	some of whom
many of who	many of whom
several of who	several of whom
all of who	all of whom
none of who	none of whom

The pattern never changes.

Whenever of comes immediately before the pronoun, and the reference is to people, whom is the grammatically correct choice.

Formal Grammar vs Everyday Conversation

One reason this topic causes so much confusion is that English follows different conventions in speech and writing.

Everyday conversations prioritize speed and simplicity. Formal writing prioritizes clarity and grammatical consistency.

Formal English	Everyday Speech
Some of whom attended the meeting.	Some of who came yesterday.
The candidates, some of whom had experience, impressed the panel.	Some of who applied already had jobs.
The guests, several of whom traveled abroad, arrived early.	Several of whom came were from overseas.

The conversational versions are common, but they remain nonstandard in edited English.

If you’re writing for:

• school,
• work,
• publishing,
• journalism,
• business,
• or professional communication,

choose some of whom every time.

If you’re listening to friends, podcasts, interviews, or casual conversations, don’t be surprised when you hear some of who instead. Spoken English often favors simplicity over strict grammar.

Editorial Note: Strong writers know the grammar rules first. Then they decide when it’s appropriate to follow conversational usage. Understanding the distinction gives you more control over your writing and helps you adapt your language to different audiences.

Examples of Some of Whom in Sentences

The easiest way to remember a grammar rule is to see it used in real situations. Some of whom appears in many types of writing because it lets you add extra information without repeating the same noun or starting another sentence.

Below are examples from different contexts to show how the phrase works naturally.

Academic Writing Examples

Academic writing values clarity, precision, and concise sentence structure. That’s one reason some of whom appears frequently in textbooks, research papers, and scholarly articles.

Examples:

• The researchers interviewed sixty participants, some of whom later joined the follow-up study.
• The professors supervised twenty graduate students, some of whom published their findings internationally.
• The scholarship committee selected thirty applicants, some of whom received additional funding.
• The historians examined several eyewitnesses, some of whom provided previously unpublished accounts.

Notice that whom always refers to people, not objects.

Grammar Check

❌ The authors cited several historical documents, some of whom were translated from Latin.

✅ The authors cited several historical documents, some of which were translated from Latin.

Since documents are things rather than people, which is the correct pronoun?

Business Writing Examples

Business communication benefits from concise, professional sentences. Instead of repeating the same subject, writers often use some of whom to add relevant details.

Examples:

• The company hired fifteen engineers, some of whom relocated from other states.
• We interviewed twenty applicants, some of whom exceeded every qualification.
• The leadership team promoted eight managers, some of whom had worked remotely for years.
• The organization recognized several volunteers, some of whom had served for more than a decade.

This structure improves readability by combining related ideas into one smooth sentence.

Compare these versions:

Less Effective

We hired twenty consultants. Some of the consultants had international experience.

Better

We hired twenty consultants, some of whom had international experience.

The second version sounds more polished and avoids unnecessary repetition.

Everyday English Examples

Although whom sounds formal to some speakers, it still appears naturally whenever careful writing is important.

Examples:

• I invited ten friends, some of whom couldn’t attend.
• We met dozens of volunteers, some of whom had traveled hundreds of miles.
• My cousins brought their children, some of whom were meeting us for the first time.
• Our neighbors organized a picnic, some of whom arrived before sunrise.

Be careful not to use whom for things.

For example:

❌ We visited several museums, some of whom offered free admission.

✅ We visited several museums, some of which offered free admission.

A quick reminder:

• People → whom
• Things → which

Journalism and Published Writing

Journalists often need to present several related facts in a single sentence. Relative clauses help them do that efficiently.

Examples:

• Emergency crews rescued dozens of residents, some of whom required immediate medical care.
• The scholarship recognized twelve students, some of whom later became community leaders.
• The documentary featured several scientists, some of whom spent decades studying climate change.
• The charity honored volunteers, some of whom had served for more than twenty years.

Using some of whom keeps the writing concise while providing additional context for readers.

Quick Reference Table

Group Mentioned	Correct Expression
employees	some of whom
students	some of whom
teachers	some of whom
guests	some of whom
neighbors	some of whom
volunteers	some of whom
doctors	some of whom
athletes	some of whom
researchers	some of whom
applicants	some of whom

Whenever the noun refers to people, some of whom is the standard choice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced writers occasionally confuse who and whom. Fortunately, most mistakes follow recognizable patterns. Once you understand them, they’re easy to avoid.

Using Who After a Preposition

This is the most common mistake.

Incorrect:

❌ The delegates, some of whom voted against the proposal, left early.

Correct:

✅ The delegates, some of whom voted against the proposal, left early.

Keep this simple pattern in mind:

• to whom
• with whom
• by whom
• from whom
• for whom
• of whom

Whenever a pronoun follows one of these prepositions, the objective form is normally required.

Mixing Up Subject and Object Pronouns

Many learners know the rule but apply it inconsistently.

Incorrect	Correct
Whom is calling?	Who is calling?
Who did you invite? (formal grammar)	Whom did you invite?
Some of who attended…	Some of whom attended…
To whom should I send this?	To whom should I send this?

A helpful strategy is to identify whether the pronoun performs the action or receives it.

If it acts, use who.

If it receives the action or follows a preposition, use whom.

Confusing Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses

Relative clauses come in two forms.

A restrictive clause identifies exactly which person or thing you’re talking about.

Example:

The employee who solved the problem received a bonus.

A nonrestrictive clause adds extra information and is separated by commas.

Example:

The employees, some of whom had worked there for decades, attended the celebration.

Because some of whom adds additional information rather than identifying the group, it almost always appears inside a nonrestrictive relative clause.

That is why commas are normally required.

Forgetting the Antecedent

Every relative pronoun must clearly refer back to a noun called its antecedent.

Clear example:

I met several consultants, some of whom specialized in cybersecurity.

The antecedent is consultants.

Now consider this sentence:

They spoke with the managers after meeting the consultants, some of whom were promoted.

Who was promoted?

• the managers?
• the consultants?

The reference is unclear.

A clearer version would be:

They met the consultants, some of whom were promoted later that year.

Clear antecedents make your writing easier to understand and prevent readers from guessing your meaning.

Editor’s Tip: If readers have to stop and ask, “Who does whom refer to?” revise the sentence. Clear references improve readability just as much as correct grammar.

Easy Tricks to Decide Between Who and Whom

You don’t need to memorize dozens of grammar rules to choose the right pronoun. A few reliable techniques can help you decide correctly in almost every situation. These methods are simple enough for everyday writing yet accurate enough for academic and professional communication.

Use the He/Him Test

The he/him test is one of the most effective grammar shortcuts because it focuses on the pronoun’s role in the sentence rather than on memorizing rules.

Here’s how it works:

• If he, she, or they fits naturally, use who.
• If him, her, or them fits naturally, use whom.

Examples:

Who called?

→ He called.

✅ Use who.

Whom did you invite?

→ You invited him.

✅ Use whom.

Now apply the same idea to the article’s main topic:

The committee interviewed twenty candidates, some of whom accepted the offer.

Think about the phrase:

Some of them accepted the offer.

Since them is an object pronoun, whom is the correct choice.

Quick Tip: If him or them sounds right, whom is usually the right answer.

Ask a Simple Question

Another useful strategy is to turn the sentence into a question.

Consider this example:

The volunteers, some of whom stayed overnight, cleaned the park.

Ask yourself:

Who stayed overnight?

Answer:

Some volunteers stayed overnight.

At first glance, you might think who should be correct because it is the subject of stayed.

However, remember that the phrase begins with of.

The pronoun belongs to the expression some of whom, where whom functions as the object of the preposition of.

This illustrates an important point:

A pronoun’s grammatical role within the entire phrase—not just the relative clause—determines whether who or whom is correct

Look for the Preposition

One of the fastest editing techniques is to scan for prepositions.

Common prepositions include:

• of
• to
• with
• for
• from
• by
• among
• between

When a pronoun immediately follows one of these words, the objective form is usually required.

Examples:

• to whom
• with whom
• for whom
• among whom
• some of whom

This method is especially useful during proofreading because it takes only a few seconds.

Read the Sentence Aloud

Grammar rules are important, but your ear becomes more reliable as you read well-edited English.

Compare these phrases aloud:

• some of who
• some of whom

After seeing the correct structure in books, newspapers, and professional articles, some of whom will begin to sound more natural.

Reading quality writing helps you recognize correct patterns without consciously applying grammar rules every time.

Expert Advice: Professional editors rarely rely on instinct alone. They combine grammar knowledge with careful proofreading to ensure every sentence reads naturally and accurately.

Decision Guide: Which Pronoun Should You Use?

If you’re unsure, work through this quick checklist.

Question	Use
Is the pronoun acting?	Who
Is it receiving the action?	Whom
Does it follow a preposition?	Whom
Does it refer to people after of?	Whom
Does he fit?	Who
Does him fit?	Whom

Most grammar questions can be answered in less than ten seconds using this process.

Comparing Similar Expressions

Once you understand some of whom, you’ll recognize a whole family of similar expressions that follow the same grammatical pattern. Learning these related phrases helps you write more naturally and avoid common mistakes.

Some of Them vs Some of Whom

Although these expressions communicate similar ideas, they perform different grammatical functions.

Use some of them when beginning a new sentence or when a relative clause isn’t needed.

Examples:

We interviewed twenty applicants.

Some of them had international experience.

I invited ten friends.

Some of them arrived early.

Use some of whom when adding information to the same sentence.

Examples:

We interviewed twenty applicants, some of whom had international experience.

I invited ten friends, some of whom arrived early.

Comparison Table

Expression	Best Use	Example
Some of them	Begins a new sentence	The guests arrived. Some of them stayed overnight.
Some of whom	Adds information within the same sentence	The guests, some of whom stayed overnight, enjoyed the event.

Writing Tip: If both versions are grammatically correct, choose the one that improves the flow of your writing rather than repeating the subject.

Some of Which vs Some of Whom

Choosing between which and whom depends on what you’re referring to.

Use:

• whom for people
• which for things, places, ideas, organizations, and most animals

Examples:

✅ The university admitted hundreds of students, some of whom received scholarships.

✅ The library owns thousands of books, some of which are more than two hundred years old.

Incorrect:

❌ The museum displayed several paintings, some of whom were restored.

Correct:

✅ The museum displayed several paintings, some of which were restored.

A simple rule works every time:

Refers To	Correct Pronoun
People	whom
Things	which

Other Expressions That Follow the Same Rule

The grammar doesn’t change when you replace some with another quantifier.

Many of Whom

Use this phrase when a large portion of the group shares the same characteristic.

Examples:

• The conference welcomed hundreds of visitors, many of whom traveled from overseas.
• We interviewed forty candidates, many of whom already had management experience.

Most of Whom

Use most of whom when more than half of the group fits the description.

Examples:

• The athletes, most of whom trained year-round, performed exceptionally well.
• The researchers, most of whom specialized in genetics, presented their findings.

None of Whom

Use this expression when no one in the group meets the stated condition.

Examples:

• I contacted five agencies, none of whom responded immediately.
• We interviewed several witnesses, none of whom recognized the suspect.

All of Whom

Use all of whom when every member of the group shares the same characteristic.

Examples:

• The committee selected twelve finalists, all of whom accepted the invitation.
• She thanked her teachers, all of whom encouraged her throughout college.

Several of Whom

Use several of whom when referring to more than a few people without giving an exact number.

Examples:

• We hired new consultants, several of whom spoke multiple languages.
• The workshop attracted experienced designers, several of whom had published books.

Few of Whom

Use few of whom when only a small number of people meet the condition.

Examples:

• The candidates completed the assessment, few of whom achieved a perfect score.
• The investors attended the presentation, few of whom asked questions.

Each of Whom

Use each of whom when emphasizing every individual separately.

Examples:

• The scholarship recipients, each of whom submitted original research, received awards.
• The participants, each of whom completed the program successfully, earned certificates.

Key Pattern: Whether you write some of whom, many of whom, most of whom, all of whom, or none of whom, the grammar stays the same because whom remains the object of the preposition of.

Grammar Rules Behind Some of Whom

The phrase some of whom isn’t an exception or a special grammar rule. It follows several core principles of English grammar that work together naturally. Once you understand these principles, you’ll recognize the pattern immediately and use it with confidence in both formal and professional writing.

Understanding Relative Pronouns

A relative pronoun connects a noun to additional information without starting a completely new sentence. It makes writing smoother, shorter, and easier to follow.

The most common relative pronouns are:

Relative Pronoun	Refers To	Main Function
Who	People	Subject
Whom	People	Object
Whose	People or things	Possession
Which	Things, ideas, animals	Subject or object
That	People or things	Restrictive clauses

For example:

The engineer who designed the bridge won an award.

Here, who introduces extra information about the engineer, who acts.

Now compare that with:

The engineers, some of whom designed award-winning bridges, attended the conference.

In this sentence:

• engineers is the antecedent.
• whom refers back to engineers.
• some of whom introduces additional information without creating another sentence.

This construction is one of the most common ways English adds extra details while keeping writing concise.

How Relative Clauses Improve Your Writing

A relative clause gives readers additional information about a noun.

Instead of writing two separate sentences, you can combine them naturally.

Without a relative clause:

We hired twelve employees.

Six employees had previous experience.

With a relative clause:

We hired twelve employees, some of whom had previous experience.

The second version is:

• smoother
• less repetitive
• easier to read
• more professional

Professional editors often combine related ideas this way because it improves flow without making sentences difficult to understand.

Editorial Tip: Relative clauses help reduce repetition while maintaining clarity. They are especially useful in reports, essays, articles, and business writing.

Why the Preposition Of Changes Everything

Many learners focus only on who and whom, but the real key is the preposition of.

In English grammar, pronouns that follow prepositions normally appear in the objective case.

Look at these examples:

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

Notice the pattern.

Every pronoun after a preposition uses an object form.

That is exactly why we write:

The museum welcomed fifty visitors, some of whom traveled from overseas.

Since whom follows of, it must be an object pronoun.

The same rule applies after many other prepositions.

Examples:

• to whom
• with whom
• by whom
• from whom
• among whom
• for whom

Learning this one principle solves many grammar questions involving whom.

Breaking Down the Grammar

Let’s examine a complete sentence.

I met ten researchers, some of whom specialize in renewable energy.

Each word has a specific job.

Part	Function
ten researchers	Antecedent
some	Quantifier
of	Preposition
whom	Object of the preposition
specialize	Verb in the relative clause

Notice something interesting.

Although whom is the object of of, it also introduces a relative clause whose verb is specialize.

This dual role often confuses learners.

The important point is that whom takes its grammatical form from the preposition—not from the verb inside the clause.

That explains why some of whom remains correct even though whom appears before a verb.

Pronouns Must Match Their Antecedents

Every pronoun replaces or refers back to another noun called an antecedent.

For writing to remain clear, the pronoun must agree with that noun.

Correct

The nurses, some of whom volunteered on weekends, received recognition.

Incorrect

The nurses, some of which volunteered on weekends, received recognition.

Since nurses are people, whom is required.

Now compare another example.

Correct

The library contains thousands of books, some of which were donated.

Because books are things rather than people, which is the correct relative pronoun.

Quick Reference

Antecedent	Correct Pronoun
People	whom
Things	which
Possession	whose

Choosing the correct pronoun keeps your writing accurate and prevents unnecessary confusion.

Why Commas Matter

The phrase some of whom almost always introduces a nonrestrictive relative clause.

That means the clause adds extra information instead of identifying the noun.

Because of this, commas are usually required.

Correct:

The employees, some of whom worked remotely, attended the meeting.

Incorrect:

The employees, some of whom worked remotely, attended the meeting.

The commas tell readers that the phrase provides additional information rather than identifying which employees you’re discussing.

This small punctuation mark significantly improves readability.

Common Grammar Pattern You’ll See Everywhere

Once you recognize this structure, you’ll begin noticing it throughout professional writing.

Examples include:

• many of whom
• most of whom
• all of whom
• none of whom
• few of whom
• each of whom
• several of whom

Although the first word changes, the grammar never does.

Each expression follows this pattern:

Quantifier + of + whom + relative clause

Examples:

• The speakers, many of whom traveled internationally, shared practical advice.
• The athletes, most of whom trained daily, achieved personal bests.
• The volunteers, all of whom donated their time, received certificates.

Recognizing this pattern makes advanced English grammar much easier.

Featured Snippet: Why Is Some of Whom Correct?

Some of whom is correct because whom is the object of the preposition of. In English grammar, object pronouns follow prepositions, so whom is required instead of who. The phrase also introduces a nonrestrictive relative clause that adds extra information about previously mentioned people.

Formal vs. Informal English

One reason learners become confused is that spoken English often ignores traditional grammar distinctions.

In casual conversation, many native speakers say:

Some of who came yesterday stayed late.

Although this sounds natural in everyday speech, edited English still prefers:

Some of whom came yesterday stayed late.

If you’re writing:

• school assignments
• professional emails
• reports
• articles
• books
• business documents

always choose some of whom.

You’ll communicate more clearly and follow accepted grammar conventions.

Expert Advice: Write naturally first, then edit carefully. During proofreading, check every pronoun that follows a preposition. This simple habit catches many grammar mistakes before your reader ever sees them.

Real-World Usage of Some of Whom

Grammar rules become much easier to remember when you see how they work in everyday writing. The phrase some of whom appears regularly in newspapers, research papers, business documents, legal writing, and professionally edited books because it helps writers connect ideas smoothly without repeating information. If you pay attention while reading high-quality English, you’ll notice this structure far more often than you might expect.

In Academic Writing

Academic writing values clarity, precision, and logical sentence structure. That’s one reason some of whom appears frequently in textbooks, research papers, journal articles, and dissertations.

Examples:

• The researchers interviewed one hundred participants, some of whom completed every phase of the study.
• The professors supervised several graduate students, some of whom later became university lecturers.
• The scholarship committee selected twenty applicants, some of whom received additional research funding.

Notice how the second clause adds valuable information without creating another sentence.

Compare these versions.

❌ The researchers interviewed one hundred participants. Some participants completed every phase.

✅ The researchers interviewed one hundred participants, some of whom completed every phase.

The revised sentence is shorter, smoother, and easier to read.

Why it works: Relative clauses reduce repetition while keeping related ideas together.

In Business Writing

Professional communication should be concise without sacrificing clarity. That’s why editors frequently use some of whom in reports, proposals, presentations, and corporate documents.

Examples:

• The company hired fifteen engineers, some of whom relocated from other states.
• We interviewed twelve candidates, some of whom had international experience.
• Our clients included several nonprofit organizations, some of whose leaders requested additional training. (Notice the use of whose for possession.)
• The leadership team promoted eight managers, some of whom had worked remotely for years.

Using one sentence instead of two creates a more polished and professional style.

In News Reporting

Journalists often summarize large amounts of information quickly. Relative clauses help them deliver important details without interrupting the flow of the story.

Examples:

• Emergency crews rescued dozens of residents, some of whom required immediate medical care.
• The scholarship recognized twelve students, some of whom became community leaders.
• The documentary featured several scientists, some of whom had spent decades studying climate change.
• The charity honored volunteers, some of whom had served for more than twenty years.

Because newspapers value concise writing, this construction appears frequently in professional journalism.

In Professional Emails

Emails often introduce a group before describing only part of it. Using some of whom makes the message more concise.

Examples:

• We welcomed several new employees, some of whom relocated from overseas.
• The attendees completed the survey, some of whom also volunteered for follow-up interviews.
• The clients submitted revised contracts, some of whom requested additional legal review.

Compared with two shorter sentences, these versions read more naturally and maintain a professional tone.

In Everyday Conversation

Spoken English follows different conventions than formal writing.

Many native speakers naturally replace whom with who, especially during casual conversation.

You may hear:

“I met a lot of people, some of who were from Canada.”

Although most listeners understand the meaning, edited English still prefers:

“I met a lot of people, some of whom were from Canada.”

This difference explains why English learners often hear one version while reading another.

Remember: Everyday speech often favors simplicity, but formal writing values grammatical accuracy.

Mini Case Study: One Word Can Change the Impression You Make

Imagine two students submitting the same university essay.

Student A

The organization interviewed twenty applicants, some of whom had previous experience.

Student B

The organization interviewed twenty applicants, some of whom had previous experience.

Both sentences communicate the same idea.

However, Student B demonstrates stronger control of formal English grammar.

Teachers, editors, hiring managers, and professional readers often notice these small details because they reflect careful editing and a solid understanding of written English.

Lesson: Small grammar choices may not change the meaning, but they often improve credibility and professionalism.

Common Learner Questions

Even after understanding the grammar rule, many learners still wonder when they should actually use whom. The questions below address some of the most common points of confusion.

Why Does Some of Whom Sound So Formal?

Many people rarely hear whom in everyday conversations.

As a result, it often sounds more formal than who.

That doesn’t mean it’s outdated.

Instead, whom continues to appear regularly in:

• academic writing
• legal documents
• government publications
• research papers
• professional emails
• books
• newspapers

Whenever a pronoun follows a preposition, formal English generally prefers whom.

Examples include:

• to whom
• with whom
• among whom
• for whom
• some of whom

These expressions remain standard because they follow long-established grammar conventions.

Is Whom Disappearing From English?

Not completely.

While spoken English has become more relaxed, written English still preserves many traditional grammar patterns.

Modern conversation often simplifies sentences.

For example:

Who did you call?

Traditional formal grammar would prefer:

Whom did you call?

Both are widely understood today, but only the second follows the traditional object-pronoun rule.

This explains why learners often hear one form but read another.

Should You Always Use Whom?

No.

Using whom simply to sound formal can actually create mistakes.

For example:

❌ Whom is coming to dinner?

Correct:

✅ Who is coming to dinner?

Here, the pronoun acts, so who is required.

The goal isn’t to use whom as often as possible.

The goal is to use it only where grammar requires it.

A practical rule is easy to remember:

• Use who for subjects.
• Use whom for objects.
• Use whom after prepositions.

Following this approach keeps your writing accurate without sounding unnatural.

Can Grammar Checkers Always Find These Mistakes?

Grammar-checking software has improved dramatically, but it still isn’t perfect.

Most tools correctly identify obvious mistakes like:

❌ some of who

However, they sometimes miss problems involving:

• unclear antecedents
• complex relative clauses
• awkward sentence structure
• punctuation around nonrestrictive clauses

For example:

The teachers met the parents after greeting the students, some of whom were excited.

Who was excited?

• the teachers?
• the parents?
• the students?

The grammar may be correct, but the meaning isn’t clear.

Human editing remains essential because clarity matters just as much as grammar.

Featured Snippet: Can You Ever Use Some of Who?

In standard written English, some of who is generally considered incorrect. Because of is a preposition, it requires the objective pronoun whom. Although many native speakers say some of who in casual conversation, formal writing almost always uses some of whom.

Quick Reference: Who, Whom, Which, and Them

Keeping these pronouns straight becomes much easier when you understand their jobs.

Pronoun	Refers To	Grammatical Role	Example
Who	People	Subject	The teacher who helped us retired.
Whom	People	Object	The students, some of whom graduated early, celebrated together.
Which	Things, ideas, animals	Subject or object	The books, some of which were signed, sold quickly.
Them	People or things	Object pronoun	I invited them yesterday.

Quick Memory Chart

Expression	Standard English
some of whom	✅ Correct
many of whom	✅ Correct
several of whom	✅ Correct
all of whom	✅ Correct
most of whom	✅ Correct
none of whom	✅ Correct
each of whom	✅ Correct
few of whom	✅ Correct
some of who	❌ Nonstandard
many of who	❌ Nonstandard
several of who	❌ Nonstandard

Common Incorrect Sentences and Their Corrections

One of the fastest ways to master some of whom is to compare incorrect sentences with their corrected versions. When you understand why a sentence is wrong, you’re much less likely to repeat the mistake. Most errors happen because writers confuse subject pronouns with object pronouns or forget that of requires the objective form.

Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence	Why It Is Correct
The guests, some of whom arrived early, waited outside.	The guests, some of whom arrived early, waited outside.	Whom is the object of the preposition of.
The students, some of who passed the exam, celebrated.	The students, some of whom passed the exam, celebrated.	Whom follows of and refers to people.
The books, some of whom were damaged, were replaced.	The books, some of which were damaged, were replaced.	Which refers to things, not people.
The scientist who discovered the vaccine won an award.	The scientist who discovered the vaccine won an award.	Who is the subject acting?
The lawyer who you hired arrived early. (Formal English)	The lawyer whom you hired arrived early.	Whom receives the action of hired.

Editing Tip: If you’re unsure, identify whether the pronoun performs the action or receives it. That single step solves most who and whom questions.

A Simple Checklist Before You Write

Even experienced writers pause to review grammar before publishing. Instead of memorizing dozens of rules, use this quick checklist whenever you’re unsure about who or whom.

Ask yourself:

• Does the pronoun refer to a person?
• Is it acting or receiving it?
• Does it follow a preposition such as of, to, with, for, from, or between?
• Would he or him sound more natural?
• Can I rewrite the sentence to make it clearer?
• Does the pronoun clearly refer to its antecedent?

If most of your answers point toward an object pronoun, whom is almost certainly the correct choice.

Quick Editing Workflow

Professional editors often follow a simple process instead of relying on instinct.

Does the pronoun refer to a person?

            │

           Yes

            │

Does it act?

      │               │

     Yes             No

      │               │

   Use WHO     Does it follow

               a preposition?

                 │       │

                Yes     No

                 │       │

          Use WHOM   Check the

                     sentence again

This decision tree makes proofreading faster and reduces common grammar mistakes.

Key Takeaways: Remember the Rule Fast

If you don’t want to memorize every grammar rule, remember these essential points. They summarize everything covered in this guide and will help you choose the correct expression with confidence.

The Most Important Rules

• Some of whom is the correct expression in standard English.
• Some of who is common in informal speech but is considered nonstandard in formal writing.
• Use who as a subject pronoun.
• Use whom as an object pronoun.
• A pronoun that follows a preposition should normally appear in the objective case.
• The preposition of requires whom, not who, when referring to people.
• Use which instead of whom when referring to things, ideas, organizations, or places.
• Expressions such as many of whom, most of whom, all of whom, none of whom, few of whom, each of whom, and several of whom follow the same grammar pattern.
• The he/him test remains one of the quickest ways to decide between who and whom.
• Reading professionally edited books, newspapers, and articles will naturally strengthen your understanding of this pattern.

Bottom Line: If you’re writing for school, work, publishing, or professional communication, choose some of whom. It follows standard English grammar, sounds polished, and leaves no doubt about your meaning.

Quick Summary Box

Situation	Correct Choice
Referring to people after of	some of whom
Referring to objects or things	some of which
Beginning a new sentence	some of them
Subject pronoun	who
Object pronoun	whom
Formal writing	some of whom
Casual speech	some of who may be heard, but it is nonstandard

Internal Linking Opportunities

To help readers build a stronger understanding of English grammar, consider linking this article to related topics such as:

• Who vs. Whom: What’s the Difference?
• Relative Pronouns Explained
• Subject vs. Object Pronouns
• How to Use Relative Clauses Correctly
• Common Prepositions in English
• Which vs. That
• Who, Whom, Whose, and Which
• Formal vs. Informal English
• Grammar Rules for Professional Email Writing
• Sentence Structure in English Grammar

These related resources naturally extend the topic without distracting from the reader’s original search intent.

Conclusion About Some Of Whom Or Some Of Who? Here’s The Correct Version (With Examples)

Choosing between some of whom and some of who becomes much easier once you understand the role each pronoun plays in a sentence. In standard English, some of whom is the correct expression because whom functions as the object of the preposition of. Although you’ll sometimes hear some of who in casual conversation, it remains nonstandard in formal writing, academic work, and professional communication. Instead of memorizing complicated grammar rules, focus on identifying whether the pronoun acts as the subject or the object. Simple techniques like the he/him test and checking for prepositions can help you make the right choice quickly. The more you read professionally edited English, the more natural this pattern will become. Mastering this small grammar point strengthens your writing, improves clarity, and helps you communicate with greater confidence in every setting.

FAQs

Is some of whom always the correct choice?

Yes, some of whom is the correct expression when referring to people after the preposition of. Because whom functions as an object pronoun, it follows standard English grammar. This form is recommended in academic writing, business communication, books, newspapers, and other professionally edited content.

Why do people say some of who?

Many native English speakers replace whom with who during casual conversation because spoken English has become less formal over time. While this usage is common in everyday speech, grammar guides and style manuals still recommend some of whom for formal writing and professional communication.

How can I quickly remember when to use whom?

A simple trick is to use the he/him test. If him fits naturally in the sentence, whom is usually the correct choice. You should also remember that pronouns following prepositions such as of, to, with, and for normally take the objective form.

Is whom still important in modern English?

Yes. Although whom appears less often in everyday conversation, it remains important in formal English. You’ll regularly see it in academic papers, legal documents, business reports, government publications, books, and professionally edited articles where grammatical accuracy is expected.

Can I replace some of whom with some of them?

Often, yes. Some of them usually begins a new sentence, while some of whom introduces additional information within the same sentence through a relative clause. Both expressions can communicate similar ideas, but they serve different grammatical purposes.

Can whom refer to things or objects?

No. Whom refers only to people. When referring to things, places, organizations, or ideas, use which instead. For example, write some of which when discussing books, buildings, reports, or other nonhuman nouns.

Why is some of whom common in formal writing?

Professional writers prefer some of whom because it combines related ideas into one smooth sentence without unnecessary repetition. It also follows established grammar conventions, making writing more precise, readable, and polished for academic and professional audiences.

What is the difference between who and whom?

Who is a subject pronoun, meaning it acts as a sentence. Whom is an object pronoun, meaning it receives the action or follows a preposition. Understanding this distinction makes it much easier to choose the correct pronoun.

Are grammar checkers reliable for who and whom?

Grammar checkers can catch many simple mistakes, but they aren’t perfect. They may struggle with complex sentence structures, unclear antecedents, or nonrestrictive relative clauses. A careful review by the writer remains the best way to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

What expressions follow the same grammar pattern as some of whom?

Several expressions use the same structure, including many of whom, most of whom, all of whom, none of whom, few of whom, several of whom, and each of whom. In every case, whom follows the preposition of and refers to people.