whomever it may be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whomever it may be" is not correct; it should be "whoever it may be." You can use it when referring to an unknown person or entity in a formal context.
Example: "We will support whoever it may be that needs assistance in this project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

So the next time a stranger wants to tell me that I need a daughter, I hope that stranger (whomever it may be, since it's happened quite a few times in the past couple months) will consider what the word "need" means.

Huffington Post

no one, whomever it may be, has the right to call me a thief!

Princeton University

Assume that (a) the work is protected by copyright, and that (b) the artist Shepard Fairey (or somebody else, whomever it may be) owns the entire copyright (i.e., the entire bundle of §106 rights) in regard to the work.

Harvard University

Napolitano had some advice for her successor, whomever it may be, on the need to work with Congress, develop plans for technology and cyber-security threats, and prepare for natural disasters.

Huffington Post

The report's findings indeed carry larger implications, as the Chicago Sun-Times' Marcus Gilmer poutTheout: "The City Council is pretty much a legislative body in name only, rarely making any difference in the laws the mayor of Chicago - whomever it may be - has passed, with at least 80-85 percent of aldermen voting with the mayor no matter who's in office".

Huffington Post

The worst thing that could happen is for the future president - whomever it may be - to retreat to Senate committee rooms, dinners at The Palm and closed meetings with White House staff, where well-heeled lobbyists and bipartisan power brokers can coach him on the finer points of the issues and on how to decide what is best for the rest of us with little or no public input or scrutiny.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Just be a ray of hope for whomever I may be that for," Campbell said.

Los Angeles Times

Indeed, pound for pound, England's quartet, whomever it comprises, may be better.

Independent

In his book Magnificent Desolation he shares the message he then radioed to Nasa: "I would like to request a few moments of silence … and to invite each person listening in, wherever and whomever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own way".

The Guardian - Opinion

In his book Magnificent Desolation he shares the message he then radioed to Nasa: "I would like to request a few moments of silence … and to invite each person listening in, wherever and whomever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own way". He then ate and drank the elements.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It made me want to express support and encouragement for the idea of speaking out for your authentic self... whomever that may be".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "whoever it may be" instead of "whomever it may be" to ensure grammatical correctness. The objective case "whomever" is not appropriate after the verb "may be".

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "whomever" in place of "whoever". Remember that "whoever" functions as the subject of a verb or clause, while "whomever" functions as an object. In the phrase "whomever it may be", "whoever" is the correct choice because it acts as the subject of the clause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whomever it may be" incorrectly attempts to function as a relative pronoun referring to an unspecified person, but it violates grammatical rules. It should be "whoever it may be" instead.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "whomever it may be" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "whoever it may be". As Ludwig AI suggests, the word 'whoever' should be used because it is the subject of the clause, not the object. Although the incorrect phrase appears in various sources, including news and academic contexts, using "whoever it may be" ensures grammatical accuracy. Alternative phrases like "no matter who it is" or "regardless of who it is" can also convey a similar meaning, depending on the desired level of formality. Therefore, always prioritize "whoever it may be" to maintain grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whoever it may be

Corrects the grammatical error by using "whoever" instead of "whomever", maintaining the meaning.

no matter who it is

Replaces the formal "whomever" with a more common and straightforward expression.

regardless of who it is

Similar to "no matter who it is" but with a slightly more formal tone.

anyone it might be

Uses "anyone" to emphasize the lack of specific identity.

whosoever it may be

A more archaic and emphatic form of "whoever", adding a sense of formality or drama.

the person in question

Focuses on the individual being discussed, regardless of their identity.

the individual concerned

Similar to "the person in question" but with a slightly more formal tone.

whoever that person is

Emphasizes the unknown identity of the person.

any person at all

Highlights that the identity is not important or relevant.

the relevant party

A more formal term used in legal or business contexts.

FAQs

Is "whomever it may be" grammatically correct?

No, "whomever it may be" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "whoever it may be". The word "whoever" should be used because it functions as the subject of the verb "may be".

When should I use "whoever" vs. "whomever"?

"Whoever" should be used when it acts as the subject of a verb or clause. "Whomever" should be used when it functions as an object (direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition). For example, use "whoever arrives first" (subject) versus "give it to "whomever you choose"" (indirect object).

What are some alternative phrases to "whomever it may be"?

Alternatives to "whoever it may be" include phrases like "no matter who it is", "regardless of who it is", or "anyone it might be". These convey a similar meaning of referring to an unspecified person.

Why is "whomever" incorrect in the phrase "whomever it may be"?

In the clause "whomever it may be", the word that fills the blank is the subject complement of "it." Because "it" is the subject, the subject complement should be "whoever" rather than "whomever". Therefore, the correct phrase is "whoever it may be".