Tips for Success
Do you know when to use who and whom?
Do you know how to eliminate boxes around images in your print book/e-book?
Do you know the rules about single quotes vs. double quotes?
We’ll be answering those questions and more at Tips for Success—the place to come for basic tips on editing and publishing.
Who or Whom?
When I was growing up, my father drilled into me a love and respect for good grammar. I often got confused over when to use who and whom, and conversation stalled many times while I sorted out which one to choose. If I was wrong, my father would sit silently, with what I thought was a glare, until I supplied the correct answer. Today whom seems to be a missing piece of the English language. Popular, well-known authors fail to use it, which means they’re substituting who incorrectly. But such is the way with change. Here are the rules about who and whom.Who: Use who as the subject (the person performing the action), a substitute for I, he, she, we, or they.
Example: Who sent this card? (She sent it.)
Example: Who is going to the movie? (They are going.)
Example: Mary is someone who loves cherries. (She loves cherries.)
Whom: Use whom as the object (the person receiving the action), a substitute for me, him, her, us, or them. This is often used with prepositions.
Whom may sound odd (or awkward) if you're not used to hearing it. But let’s save it from a ghostly existence. What do you say? Can we bring it back?Example: Whom did you write? (You wrote her.)
Example: Tom is the one whom I envy most. (I envy him.)
Example: For whom did you buy the roses? (You bought the roses for them.)