from whom

USAGE SUMMARY

"from whom" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a pronoun used to refer to someone previously mentioned in a sentence. For example: "I received the book from my aunt, from whom I have borrowed many books over the years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And from whom?

The New York Times - Books

Stealing from whom, after all?

The New York Times - Magazine

Help from whom? Tell Mama what, exactly?

The New Yorker

From whom did she get it?

The New York Times

But from whom?

The Guardian - Opinion

Protected from whom?

The New York Times

Protect them from whom?

The New York Times

From whom? "Women!

The Guardian

Guess who learns from whom?

The New York Times

"From whom will we take?

The Guardian

From whom can commitments be extracted?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "from whom" in formal writing and when the relationship between the giver and receiver is important to emphasize.

Common error

Avoid ending sentences with "from" when using "from whom". Rephrase to keep the preposition correctly placed before "whom".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from whom" functions as a prepositional relative pronoun. It introduces a relative clause, modifying a noun by specifying the person from whom something originates or is received. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

40%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "from whom" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that introduces relative clauses, specifying a person as the origin or source of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is deemed correct and usable in various forms of written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, this phrase maintains a formal register and serves the purpose of clearly identifying individuals in relation to the topic at hand. To ensure correct usage, remember that this phrase is best suited for formal writing and always keeps the preposition "from" correctly placed before "whom".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from which person

Replaces the pronoun with a more explicit noun phrase.

by whom

Uses a more concise and formal construction.

from which individual

Emphasizes the person as a distinct entity.

by what person

Offers a slightly more direct alternative to "by whom".

from what source

Focuses on the origin or provider rather than a specific person.

from whose hand

Emphasizes agency or direct involvement.

of whom

A more archaic but grammatically valid alternative.

who is the source

Breaks down the question into a more direct inquiry.

where did it come from

Simplifies the question to focus on origin rather than the giver.

who from

Inverts the preposition for a less formal tone, but is grammatically incorrect.

FAQs

How can I use "from whom" in a sentence?

Use "from whom" to indicate the source or origin when referring to a person, such as, "This is the author "from whom" I learned the technique."

Is it ever correct to say "who from" instead of "from whom"?

While "who from" might be used in very informal speech, it is grammatically incorrect in formal writing. Always use "from whom" in professional or academic contexts.

What's the difference between "from whom" and "by whom"?

"From whom" indicates the origin or source, while "by whom" typically refers to the agent or actor. For example, "The book "from whom" I got the information" versus "The decision was made "by whom"?".

Are there situations where "from which" is more appropriate than "from whom"?

Yes, use "from which" when referring to things, organizations, or entities that are not people. For instance, "The data "from which" the conclusions were drawn."