whom I asked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'whom I asked' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to a person you have asked a question. For example: "I asked my teacher, whom I asked for guidance, for help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"By whom?" I asked.

The Guardian - Books

From an author that I love: Greil Marcus, whom I asked to curate the Albertine Festival.

The New Yorker

Airport staff whom I asked for help were either surly or refused to help at all.

The New York Times - Travel

Sang Yoon -- the chef at the Father's Office gastropubs in Los Angeles, whom I asked to try the recipe -- called it "a head-scratcher".

The New York Times

"I took my cues from the passionate responses of individuals whom I asked to help me understand what Queen Charlotte represents to them".

The Guardian

Various police officers whom I asked for directions, waved me vaguely toward the East River, differing degrees of boredom and resignation on their faces.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

I just love the term, "One day at a time" For whom I ask?

Huffington Post

"Several links to New York Times articles come my way daily from fellow-traveler friends, many of whom I've asked to take me off their CC lists.

Vice

My doula and friend, whom I'd asked to provide labor support, began a mantra, and I repeated her words: "I welcome this sensation.

The Guardian - Opinion

I'll be given a traditional farewell by my friend the rabbi, whom I've asked in advance to fly over from New York to officiate at my funeral.

The Guardian

Korsh, whom I'd asked to update the 19th-century epigram, was taken by the way the fat in the lamb cutlets crisped.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "whom I asked" with simpler constructions like "the person I asked" in informal contexts to improve readability without sacrificing grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "who" instead of "whom" in formal writing when the pronoun acts as the object of a verb or preposition within the relative clause. For example, it's incorrect to say "The person who I asked", the correct phrase is "The person whom I asked".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whom I asked" functions as a relative clause, specifically a non-restrictive relative clause (also known as a non-defining relative clause), providing additional information about a previously mentioned noun. Ludwig confirms that it's grammatically sound and generally used to add extra detail.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whom I asked" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a non-restrictive relative clause, providing extra information about a person the speaker or writer consulted. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is suitable for formal and neutral registers, appearing most frequently in news and media sources. While grammatically sound, it's important to ensure that "whom" is used correctly as the object of a verb or preposition and is set off by commas when introducing a non-essential clause. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "the person I asked" may be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the person I questioned

Replaces the formal "whom" with the simpler "person" and uses "questioned" instead of "asked".

the individual I consulted

Substitutes "whom" with "individual" for a slightly more formal tone and replaces "asked" with "consulted", implying a more in-depth discussion.

the one I inquired of

Uses the more archaic "inquired of" for a highly formal and somewhat dated effect.

the source I consulted

Replaces "whom" with "source", focusing on the information provided rather than the person.

the party I interviewed

Substitutes "asked" with "interviewed", suggesting a structured question-and-answer session.

the respondent I addressed

Uses "respondent" to emphasize the role of answering questions and replaces "asked" with "addressed", highlighting the act of speaking to someone.

the person I sought information from

Expands on the act of asking by specifying that information was being sought.

the interviewee

Uses a concise noun to refer to the person being asked.

the person I put the question to

More descriptive than "whom I asked".

the subject of my query

Frames the person as the subject of an inquiry, which is highly formal.

FAQs

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

Use "whom I asked" to introduce a relative clause that provides additional information about a person you questioned. For example: "The geologist, "whom I asked" about the rock formation, provided a detailed explanation".

What are some alternatives to "whom I asked"?

You can use alternatives like "the person I asked", "the individual I consulted", or "the source I consulted" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Which is correct, "who I asked" or "whom I asked"?

In formal writing, "whom I asked" is correct because "whom" is the object of the verb "asked" within the relative clause. "Who I asked" is generally considered incorrect in formal contexts, although it may be acceptable in informal speech.

Is "whom I asked" formal or informal?

"Whom I asked" is generally considered more formal. In less formal situations, you might prefer "the person I asked" or another simpler construction.