who I learned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "who I learned" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to refer to a person from whom knowledge or skills were acquired, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "She is the teacher who I learned so much from during my studies."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

"Much of what we do here, that's who I learned from," Mornhinweg said.

The New York Times - Sports

Eddy's father — who, I learned later, sometimes beat Eddy — had darker suspicions.

The New Yorker

There were also a number of shadowy men who I learned were from the security services.

The Guardian - Books

I moved on, approaching another participant, a young Nigerian man dressed in a luxurious suit of pale blue who, I learned, runs a mining company in Lagos.

The New York Times - Magazine

Rather than blaming foreign players, who I learned a lot from, we need to ask why our youngsters are not good enough, why they are not making more of their opportunities.

Independent

In his five volumes of Haydn trios (recorded with the violinist Erich Höbarth and the cellist Christophe Coin), Cohen — who, I learned, is French — plays on historical pianos or copies thereof.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The head butler, who I learn is named Carson, is sick.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I meet up with Leila and her friend Saeed, who I learn is to serve as my personal historian today.

The Guardian

Laurie David was there, so was Lucy Lean, an old friend who, I learn yesterday, is now working with chef Ramsay.

Huffington Post

A white man, who I later learned was an American, looked older than the rest.

The New York Times

Three men who, I later learned, were ICE agents were getting on an elevator with Schimanski.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a person from whom you learned, use "from whom I learned" or "who taught me" to maintain grammatical correctness in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "who I learned" directly; it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, use the correct relative pronoun structure with 'from whom' or rephrase the sentence to use a verb like 'taught'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "who I learned" functions as part of a relative clause, attempting to identify a person. However, it's grammatically flawed. Ludwig AI confirms this with several examples, though it points out the incorrectness in standard English, suggesting the need for corrections such as "from whom I learned".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "who I learned" is a grammatically incorrect attempt to form a relative clause specifying a person from whom one has learned. While it appears with some frequency in informal contexts such as news media, as seen through Ludwig examples, it's not appropriate for formal writing. Ludwig AI emphasizes that standard English requires alternatives like "from whom I learned" or a rephrasing such as "who taught me". When aiming for clarity and grammatical precision, especially in academic or professional settings, it's crucial to avoid "who I learned" and opt for a correct alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from whom I learned

This alternative provides the correct grammatical structure by using the preposition "from" before the relative pronoun "whom".

who taught me

This alternative uses the verb "taught" to directly express the act of teaching, simplifying the original phrase.

who instructed me

Similar to "who taught me", this version employs the verb "instructed" for a slightly more formal tone.

who I took instruction from

This option is more formal and emphasizes the act of receiving instruction.

who I studied with

This phrase indicates collaboration or shared learning experience with the person.

the person who mentored me

Implies a mentoring relationship, highlighting guidance and support received.

from whom I gained knowledge

Focuses on knowledge acquisition with formal tone.

who shared their wisdom with me

Highlights wisdom imparted; more figurative language.

who shaped my understanding

Emphasizes influence on personal perspective.

who guided me

Implies guidance and direction, not necessarily formal teaching.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "who I learned from"?

The grammatically correct way is to say "from whom I learned". Alternatively, you can rephrase it as "who taught me". Both options ensure proper grammar and clarity.

Is "who I learned from" grammatically correct?

No, "who I learned from" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "from whom I learned". However, in very informal contexts, it might be used, though it's best to avoid it in formal writing.

What can I say instead of "who I learned from"?

You can use alternatives like "from whom I learned", "who taught me", or "who instructed me" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "who I learned from" and "from whom I learned"?

"Who I learned from" is grammatically incorrect. "From whom I learned" is the grammatically correct version, employing the correct relative pronoun and preposition placement. Use "from whom I learned" in formal writing to maintain proper grammar.