four whom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "four whom" is not correct in standard written English.
It appears to be a typographical error or a misinterpretation of "for whom." Example: "This gift is for whom it may concern."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

She held the hand of a boy of four, whom I had left an infant in 1942".

The New Yorker

The only judge among the four whom the president appeared to lose much of his interest in was Raymond M. Kethledge.

The New York Times

The four, whom Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre made bishops in unsanctioned consecrations in Switzerland in 1988, reject many reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

The New York Times

Playing in bands through the 1960s, Lemmy was soon at the periphery of a scene revolutionized by the Fab Four, whom he saw perform at the legendary Cavern Club in their native Liverpool as a teenager.

Independent

The house of Amina Lawal, 30, a mother of four whom an Islamic court has sentenced to death by stoning for bearing a child out of wedlock, is not far away.

The New York Times

Homeless youths, one in four whom are queer, will be given work speaking to tour groups.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

TBE PRESIDENT: Can you remember the names of the five whom you prosecuted, the five commandants?

Yale University

Everyone had a teacher or two whom they remember admiring and wanting to emulate.

University of California, Berkeley

But who is this "you" whom Obama also doesn't love?

The New Yorker

One, whom the police identified as Sahar Khoshakhlagh, 37, sustained a graze wound to the buttock.

The New York Times

Cox remembered Smith as a no-nonsense disciplinarian, but one whom his players wanted to please.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "four of whom" or "four who" for better grammatical flow and acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "whom" if "who" sounds more natural. Many modern writers simplify relative clauses by using "who" whenever it functions as the subject of the clause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "four whom" typically introduces a relative clause, aiming to provide additional information about a group of four people. Ludwig AI points out that this structure can sound unnatural; therefore, simpler alternatives are generally favored.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "four whom" is grammatically recognizable, it is not the most elegant or commonly accepted phrase in contemporary English. Ludwig AI's analysis suggests that alternatives such as "four of whom" or "four who" are usually better choices, offering improved clarity and a more natural tone. Given its infrequent usage and potential for awkwardness, it's best to opt for simpler constructions to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

four who

This option replaces "whom" with "who" providing a simpler structure.

four of whom

This alternative is more grammatically correct and widely accepted for introducing a relative clause.

four people who

This option replaces "whom" with "who" and adds "people" for clarity.

four individuals whom

This alternative uses a more formal term for people but retains the relative pronoun "whom".

the four persons whom

This is a formal alternative specifying persons and using 'whom' for formal tone.

the four people whom

Adding 'the' specifies a group of four but retains the less preferred 'whom'.

of the four whom

This variant uses "of the four" to specify selection within a group, while still employing 'whom'.

four that

This replaces "whom" with "that", which is grammatically acceptable but may sound less formal.

four amongst whom

This phrase uses 'amongst' to show that the four are part of a larger group, retaining 'whom'.

four from whom

This version emphasizes the origin or source, keeping the relative pronoun 'whom'.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound way to say "four whom"?

Use alternatives such as "four of whom" or "four who" for improved clarity and correctness.

When is it appropriate to use "whom"?

"Whom" is generally used when it is the object of a verb or preposition. However, in many cases, "who" is acceptable in modern usage, especially in informal contexts.

Is "four whom" considered formal or informal?

The phrase "four whom" can sound overly formal and somewhat awkward. Simpler constructions are generally preferred.

What can I say instead of "four whom" in a sentence?

Consider replacing it with "four of whom", "four who", or rewording the sentence to avoid the relative pronoun altogether.