whom I do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whom I do" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used construction and may confuse readers due to its awkwardness. Example: "The person whom I do admire the most is my grandmother."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My beloved New York Knickerbockers, Whom I do adore.

The New York Times

Or very rich people whom I do not know.

The New Yorker

I also like to steer clear of writing about people whom I do not personally like.

The New York Times - Books

But should I share this girl's comments with her parents, whom I do not know?

The New York Times

A client for whom I do consulting work owes me a lot of money.

The New York Times - Magazine

The target was a big al-Shabaab commander, whom I do not want to name at this moment".

The Guardian

The people whom I do manage to hire live with their parents, partners who are very supportive or with roommates.

The New York Times

He went on, "I believe in addressing as earnestly, and as modestly, and as forthrightly as possible, somebody whom I cannot see, whom I do not know".

The New Yorker

Or, more specifically, somebody whom I do not know liked the name enough to create a video mash-up and title it "I Love Lazer Bass".

The New Yorker

I need to note here that while researching the book, Mr. Lansky, whom I do not know personally, contacted many travel writers, including me, to ask about their worst trips.

The New York Times

Costas was, as he noted, quoting, or slightly paraphrasing, Jason Whitlock, a columnist based in Kansas City, "with whom I do not always agree, but who today said it so well".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "whom I do" in formal writing. Opt for simpler and more direct relative clauses like "whom I" or rephrase the sentence to use "that I". This improves clarity and avoids awkwardness.

Common error

Using "whom I do" often results from trying to be overly formal. Instead, focus on clear, concise phrasing. For instance, "the person whom I admire" can be simplified to "the person I admire" or "the person that I admire".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whom I do" functions as part of a relative clause, typically intended to specify or describe a noun. However, this construction is often grammatically awkward. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is incorrect in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Science

8%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "whom I do" appears frequently in various contexts, but Ludwig AI notes that it is not considered correct in standard written English, often sounding awkward. Analysis indicates that while it surfaces mostly in news and media sources, it is generally better to opt for more concise and grammatically sound alternatives like "whom I" or "that I". By simplifying the sentence structure, writers can enhance clarity and avoid potential confusion. This approach ensures more effective communication, especially in formal contexts where precision is paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whom I

Simplifies the structure by removing 'do', creating a more direct relative clause.

who I do

Replaces "whom" with "who", a less formal but sometimes acceptable substitution.

that I do

Replaces "whom" with "that", simplifying the sentence structure.

that I

Omits "do", creating a more concise relative clause. This reduces the emphasis on the action and focuses on the person or thing.

which I do

Uses "which" instead of "whom" for non-personal references, changing the subject of the relative clause.

the person I

Specifies "person" instead of using a pronoun, making the reference clearer.

the one I

Replaces "whom" with "the one", shifting the focus to a specific individual.

one that I

Similar to "the one I", but slightly less specific.

those I

Uses the plural form, changing the scope of the reference.

the ones I

Like "those I", but slightly more formal.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence using "whom I do" to sound more natural?

Often, you can simply remove the "do" and keep the "whom". For example, "the person "whom I do respect"" can become "the person "whom I respect"". Alternatively, you can replace "whom" with "that" or omit it entirely.

Is it ever correct to use "whom I do" in a sentence?

While grammatically not always incorrect, "whom I do" is generally considered awkward and can often be improved by rephrasing. It's better to use alternatives like "whom I" or "that I" for better clarity.

What's the difference between "whom I do" and "whom I"?

"Whom I" is a more concise and standard relative clause construction. "Whom I do" adds unnecessary emphasis without providing additional clarity, often making the sentence sound unnatural. Compare "the person "whom I do trust"" with "the person "whom I trust"".

What are some common mistakes when using "whom"?

A frequent error is using "whom" when "who" is appropriate, or using overly complex phrases like "whom I do" when simpler structures work better. Remember that "whom" is used when it is the object of a verb or preposition, while "who" is the subject.