whom else

USAGE SUMMARY

'whom else' is not correct in written English.
The correct form is 'who else.' For example, you could use it in the following sentence: Who else would like to join us for dinner?.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Whom else might he damage?

The New York Times - Magazine

Of whom else would he say it?

The New York Times - Books

German ideal, Austrian roots, whom else might you be describing?

The New York Times - Magazine

Whom else would he infect along the way?

The New York Times

Whom else can you turn to for news about Patty's day?

The New Yorker

Whom else would cops suspect and arrest but the brown ones?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Pam Grier and Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster — these are people you found whom nobody else had thought about.

The New York Times

This is the singularly unconflicted expression of privilege: a psyche for whom everyone else is merely instrumental.

Independent

The rest of the movie follows Rudy and Paul's struggle to gain custody of Marco, whom nobody else wants.

The New York Times

A cult partner, Hora, is spoken of, as are minor deities, the Virites Quirini, of whom nothing else is known.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Gently fold the host's new boyfriend into a discussion about people whom everyone else in attendance used to work with and whom he's never met.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "whom else" appears in many published sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use "who else" instead.

Common error

Remember that "who" is used for subjects and "whom" for objects. In most cases where "whom else" is used, "who else" is the correct choice as it usually functions as the subject of the verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whom else" is an interrogative phrase used to inquire about additional individuals. Although commonly used, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting the grammatically correct form is "who else".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

19%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "whom else" is frequently used to inquire about additional individuals, but it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "who else". The phrase appears in diverse contexts, including News & Media and scientific publications. Although common, it's best to use the grammatically correct form "who else", specially in formal settings. Understanding the difference between "who" and "whom" can help avoid this common error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who else

Replaces the grammatically incorrect "whom" with "who", making it grammatically sound and more commonly used.

who else would

Adds an auxiliary verb to create a more complete question, implying a conditional scenario.

besides whom

Introduces a preposition to specify "in addition to" the person already mentioned, more formal.

who in addition

Directly asks for additional people, simple and direct.

any other person

Shifts the focus to any person besides the one already specified, less direct.

what other individuals

Uses more formal language, replacing "else" with "other individuals".

who all

A more informal way of asking for a list of additional people.

name another person

Specifically requests the name of another person, very direct.

is there anyone else

Inquires if there are any other people without directly specifying the need.

who might also be

Asks for potential additional individuals, implying possibility.

FAQs

Is "whom else" grammatically correct?

While "whom else" is frequently used, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "who else".

When should I use "who" vs "whom"?

"Who" is used as a subject or subject complement, while "whom" is used as an object. When in doubt, try replacing "who/whom" with "he/him". If "him" fits, use "whom"; otherwise, use "who".

What's a more formal alternative to "who else"?

While less common, more formal alternatives to "who else" include "besides whom" or rephrasing the sentence to avoid the need for a direct substitute.

How can I remember when to use "whom"?

Think of "whom" as the objective case, similar to "him" or "her". If the person is receiving the action, "whom" is usually correct. If the person is performing the action, use "who".