where are them

USAGE SUMMARY

The correct phrase is "Where are they?" "Where are them" is not grammatically correct in written English.
You can use "Where are they?" in any written context where you want to ask someone (or something) about the location of a plural noun. For example: "Where are they? I can't seem to find the bookmarks I bought yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Halfway through the race, he calls on the radio and says, 'Where are them shoes?' " Trickle competed in 303 Cup races from 1970 to 2002 — he ran a few races over the years before his official rookie season — and did not retire from Cup competition until he was 60.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And where are they keeping them?

Huffington Post

I couldn't find them, where are they?

Yale University

If we do not see them, where are they?

The New York Times - Science

Where are they when you want them?

The New Yorker

Where are they going to find them?

Huffington Post

But where are they when you need them?

Huffington Post

Where were they when we needed them?

Los Angeles Times

Where are you releasing them?

The Guardian

Where are most of them stationed today?

The New York Times

Victim cannot see where are you tickling them.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the grammatically correct phrase "where are they" to inquire about the location of multiple people or things. Avoiding "where are them" will ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "them" in place of "they" after the verb "are". "Them" is an object pronoun, while "they" is a subject pronoun. The correct structure is "where are they?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "where are them" functions incorrectly as an interrogative clause. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form, "where are they?", is used to inquire about the location of multiple people or things.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Academia

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "where are them" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct phrasing is "where are they?" to ask about the location of multiple people or items. While the phrase might be encountered in informal speech, it's crucial to use the correct grammar in writing. Remember to avoid using "them" in place of "they" after the verb "are" to maintain clarity and professionalism in your communication. Although examples do exist, they are mostly incorrect usages as confirmed by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

where are they

Corrects the grammatical error by using the proper pronoun.

where is it

Used when referring to a singular item instead of a plural one.

where can they be found

Offers a more formal and descriptive way to ask about the location.

what is their location

Provides a more formal and structured inquiry about someone's whereabouts.

can you tell me their location

A polite and direct way of asking about someone or something's whereabouts.

could you indicate their whereabouts

Implies a polite way of asking about their location.

where might they be

Introduces a degree of uncertainty or speculation about their location.

where do they reside

Refers more specifically to a place of living or permanent location.

at what location are they present

Asks in a formal way about the location.

what is their current position

Focuses on asking about the present location.

FAQs

What's the correct way to ask about the location of multiple items?

The correct way to inquire about the location of multiple items is to say "where are they?" Using "them" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

Is "where are them" ever correct?

No, "where are them" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrasing is "where are they?"

What can I say instead of "where are them"?

You should use "where are they" instead of "where are them". This ensures grammatical accuracy.

How does using "where are them" affect my writing?

Using "where are them" can make your writing appear unprofessional and may confuse readers. Always opt for the grammatically correct "where are they" to maintain clarity and credibility.