Some of whom vs some of who

The phrases some of whom and some of who look similar, but only one is usually correct in standard English. Writers and speakers often ask whether to use whom or who after some of.

This article explains the grammar rule behind the choice. It gives clear, simple examples and checks parts of speech so you can see why one form is correct. I will mark verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and pronouns in key sentences. Read on to learn easy rules, common mistakes, and simple tips to use the right form every time.

Table of Contents

Parts-of-speech analysis

Below I label the main parts of speech for important words in each introduction sentence and check verb tense and agreement.

“The phrases some of whom and some of who look similar, but only one is usually correct in standard English”

Nouns: phrases, English (proper noun)
Pronouns: whom, who (relative pronouns)
Verbs: look (present plural; subject “The phrases” → correct), is (present singular; subject “one” → correct)
Adjectives: similar (used as predicate adjective), only, one, standard (modify nouns)
Adverbs: usually (modifies “is correct”)
Conjunction: but (joins clauses)
Prepositions: in (introduces “standard English”)
Article: The (definite article)
Sentence check: Complete sentence; verbs are in present tense and agree with their subjects.

“Writers and speakers often ask whether to use whom or who after some of”

Nouns: Writers, speakers (plural nouns)
Pronouns: whom, who (objects/subjects in question)
Verbs: ask (present plural; matches “Writers and speakers” → correct), to use (infinitive after ask)
Adverb: often (modifies ask)
Preposition: after (introduces phrase “some of”)
Conjunction: whether (introduces indirect question)
Sentence check: Clear and grammatically correct.

“This article explains the grammar rule behind the choice”

Pronoun: This (demonstrative pronoun referring to “article”)
Nouns: article, grammar, rule, choice
Verb: explains (present singular; subject “This article” → correct)
Preposition: behind (introduces relation)
Sentence check: Correct.

“It gives clear, simple examples and checks parts of speech so you can see why one form is correct”

Pronouns: It (refers to article), you (second-person)
Nouns: examples, parts, speech, form
Verbs: gives (present singular; matches “It”), checks (present singular), can see (modal + base verb) — all correct
Adjectives: clear, simple (modify examples)
Conjunction: and (joins verbs)
Sentence check: Compound verbs are parallel and agree with the subject.

“I will mark verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and pronouns in key sentences and explain them”

Pronoun: I (first-person)
Verbs: will mark (future modal + base), explain (base form paired with will) — correct for subject “I”
Nouns: verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, sentences
Conjunction: and (joins actions)
Sentence check: Future tense used properly.

“Read on to learn easy rules, common mistakes, and simple tips to use the right form every time”

Verb (imperative): Read (command to the reader)
Verbs: learn, use (infinitives following “to”)
Nouns: rules, mistakes, tips, form, time
Adjectives: easy, common, simple, right (modify nouns)
Sentence check: Imperative form is appropriate; infinitives are correct.

Quick answer — which is correct?

Use some of whom when the pronoun is the object of a preposition or when it refers back to people in a non-restrictive or relative clause.
- Example (correct): She met several artists, some of whom were famous.
Some of who is usually incorrect in standard English when trying to form a relative clause. Use some of them instead.
- Wrong: She met several artists, some of who were famous.
Short rule: after some of, when you need a relative pronoun that refers to people and that follows a preposition (of), use whom (or rephrase).

This quick answer is the baseline; the sections below fully explain why and show many examples.

Why whom — the grammar behind it

Who vs whom — basic idea:

Who is a subject pronoun. It performs the action of a verb in a clause.
- Example: Who called you? (“who” is subject)
Whom is an object pronoun. It receives the action of a verb or is the object of a preposition.
- Example: Whom did you call? (“whom” is object of “did call”)

Why some of whom works:

In some of whom, whom functions as the object of the preposition of inside the phrase some of whom. Grammatically, the clause is something like some of whom [verb clause], where whom is not the subject of the main sentence but the object inside the relative clause structure.

Take: She invited many people, some of whom are writers.

Break it down: She invited many people. (main clause)
Add relative clause: some of whom are writers.
- whom refers back to “many people.”
- of whom signals “out of those people.”
- Inside the relative clause, whom appears with the preposition of, so object form whom is required.

Test trick — replace with them / they:

If you can replace the phrase with them, use whom.
- She invited many people, some of whom are writers. → She invited many people; some of them are writers.(works; object form)
If you would use they, who is correct.
- Who called? → They called. (subject form)

Full examples with parts-of-speech labels and verb checks

I give clear example sentences, label the key parts of speech, and check verb tense and agreement.

Correct:He invited colleagues, some of whom work remotely.
- He (pronoun subject) | invited (verb past) | colleagues (plural noun direct object) , | some (quantifier) | of (preposition) | whom (relative pronoun, object of of) | work (verb present plural; agrees with “some” or “whom” reference) | remotely (adverb).
- Verb check: work matches plural reference. Sentence mixes past main verb invited with present clause some of whom work — acceptable: reporting past action with a general present fact.
Incorrect:He invited colleagues, some of who work remotely.
- Error: who (subject form) used after of where object form whom is needed.
- Fix: replace who with whom or rephrase: some of whom work or some who work remotely were invited (but note meaning change).
Correct (passive):Several candidates were chosen, some of whom were promoted later.
- Several candidates (noun phrase subject) | were chosen (passive verb phrase past) , | some (quantifier) | of (preposition) | whom (relative pronoun) | were promoted (passive past) | later (adverb).
- Verb check: Passive voice used; both passive verbs agree with subjects.
Example with rephrase:Some of the students, who are from different countries, received awards.
- This sentence uses a different structure: who is subject of the clause who are from different countries. Here who is correct because it acts as subject in that clause, not as the object of of.
- Parts: Some (quantifier) | of (preposition) | the students (noun phrase) , | who (relative pronoun subject) | are (verb present plural) | from different countries (prepositional phrase).
Test replacement method:
- Sentence: They invited guests, some of whom arrived early.
- Replace some of whom with some of them: They invited guests; some of them arrived early. Works → use whom.

When some of who might appear (informal speech and rephrasing)

Informal speech:

In casual speech, people sometimes say some of who and listeners understand the meaning. However, this is nonstandard in formal writing.

When who is correct after some (no of):

Some who is correct when who is the subject of the clause, not the object of of.
- Example: Some who work late prefer coffee.
- Breakdown: Some [people] who work late prefer coffee. Here who introduces a restrictive clause and is the subject of work.

Compare:

Some of whom = some of them (object relationship).
Some who = some [people] who … (subject or subject of clause).

Examples:

We hired five interns, some of whom will start next week. (correct: whom because of of)
Some who applied were overqualified. (correct: who because it begins restrictive clause: “Some [people] who applied”)

Common mistakes and simple fixes

Below are some common mistakes and how to fix them.

1 — Using some of whoin a relative clause

Wrong: She met several authors, some of who wrote about travel.
Fix: She met several authors, some of whom wrote about travel.
Why: of requires object pronoun whom.

2 — Confusing some whovs some of whom

Wrong: Some of who attended the meeting left early. (awkward)
Fix: Some who attended the meeting left early. (correct if meaning: some people who attended) OR Some of those who attended left early. (more explicit)
Why: Choose structure based on whether who is subject or object.

3 — Overcorrecting and using whomas subject

Wrong: She met the man whom is my neighbor.
Fix: She met the man who is my neighbor.
Why: who is subject of is; whom would be wrong.

4 — Wordiness to avoid grammar

Wrong (awkward): She is friends with people, some of whom that she admires.
Fix: She is friends with people, some of whom she admires. or She is friends with some people she admires.
Why: Do not stack unnecessary relative markers.

Fix technique — two options:

Use some of whom when the group is already introduced and you refer back to them.
Rephrase to avoid complex clause: Some of them were… or Some who… depending on role.

American vs British English — any difference?

Short answer: No major difference in the rule. Both American and British standard grammar prefer some of whom in formal writing where of is present and whom serves as object.

Style notes:

In spoken American English, whom is less commonly used overall. Speakers often use who in places where traditional grammar calls for whom. For formal writing, American style guides still recommend whom in object positions.
British English follows similar patterns; whom may also be less frequent in casual speech, but it is used in formal writing.

Practical tip: If you write formally (academic, professional), use some of whom when correct. In casual messages, many people accept some of who, but it’s nonstandard.

Idiomatic expressions and related phrases

Some related patterns and alternatives:

Some of them — clear and safe replacement for some of whom.
- Example: She invited many guests; some of them were musicians.
Some who — use to introduce a restrictive clause where who is the subject.
- Example: Some who apply lack experience.
Of whom — used in several constructions: many of whom, several of whom, all of whom.
- Example: They met artists, many of whom were local.

Parts-of-speech note:

Of is a preposition here. Whom is the object of that preposition. The whole phrase some of whom functions as a quantifier + relative structure.

Practical tips — quick rules you can use

Ask: does of come before who? If yes, use whom (object form).
- some of whom — correct.
Ask: is who the subject of its clause? If yes, use who.
- Some who study hard pass. — who is subject of study.
Replacement trick: Replace the clause with some of them. If that works, use some of whom.
Rephrase if unsure: Use some of the people who… or split into two sentences: She met many people. Some of them were writers.
Formal writing: prefer whom in object position. In casual speech, who often appears — but avoid it in formal text.

Many clear examples with labels and checks

I give many example sentences with parts-of-speech labels and verb checks so you can see the pattern.

They hired consultants, some of whom specialized in tax law.
- They (pronoun) | hired (verb past) | consultants (noun) , | some (quantifier) | of (preposition) | whom (relative pronoun, object) | specialized (verb past) | in tax law (prepositional phrase).
- Check: specialized agrees with plural reference.
Some who live nearby volunteer at the shelter.
- Some (quantifier) | who (relative pronoun subject) | live (verb present plural) | nearby (adverb) | volunteer (verb present plural) | at the shelter (prepositional phrase).
- Check: who is subject of live, so who is correct.
We visited museums, some of which were free.
- We (pronoun) | visited (verb past) | museums (noun) , | some (quantifier) | of (preposition) | which (relative pronoun for things) | were (verb past) | free (adjective).
- Check: Use which not who because museums are things.
Many students, some of whom had studied abroad, passed the exam.
- Many students (noun phrase) , | some (quantifier) | of (preposition) | whom (relative pronoun object) | had studied (past perfect) | abroad (adverb) , | passed (verb past) | the exam (object).
- Check: Past perfect had studied shows prior action; verb agreement matches subjects.
She knows people who can help.
- She (pronoun) | knows (verb present) | people (noun) | who (relative pronoun subject) | can help (modal + verb).
- Check: who is correct because it is subject of can help.

Rewriting to enhance clarity, grammar, and style (simple rewrites)

Below I show original awkward sentences and improved versions, with short reasons.

Original:She met several authors, some of who wrote about travel.Improved:She met several authors, some of whom wrote about travel.
- Why: Use whom after preposition of.
Original:Some who attended left early. (OK but vague) Improved:Some of those who attended left early.
- Why: Adds clarity and avoids confusion between some who and some of whom.
Original:He invited friends, some of that were musicians.Improved:He invited friends, some of whom were musicians.
- Why: Use whom for people after of; that is incorrect with of here.
Original:She knows some people who are artists, some of whom teach art.Improved:She knows some people who are artists; some of them teach art.
- Why: Simpler, avoids heavy clause stacking; both forms are correct but the rewrite is clearer.

Conclusion

Key points:

Use some of whom when the relative pronoun follows of and refers back to people in a clause where it functions as an object.
Use some who when who is the subject of its clause (restrictive clause).
Replace with some of them to test whether whom is correct.
In formal writing, use whom in object positions. In casual speech, who is often used but is nonstandard in formal texts.
When in doubt, rephrase for clarity.

FAQs

Q: Is “some of who” ever correct? A: Rarely in standard formal English. Use some who (no of) or some of whom(with of).
Q: How do I pick who or whom after some of? A: After some of, use whom if it functions as an object. Replace with some of them to test.
Q: Can I say “some who” instead? A: Yes, if who is the subject of its clause (e.g., Some who study hard pass).
Q: Does this rule apply to things, too? A: For things use which or that: some of which (e.g., books, some of which were old).
Q: Is whom disappearing in modern English? A: It is less common in speech, but still correct and recommended in formal writing.
Q: What if I am not sure? A: Rephrase: Some of the people who… or split into two sentences: She met many people. Some of them…
Q: Are Americans more relaxed about this? A: Yes, many speakers use who where traditional grammar calls for whom, but formal writing still prefers whom.
Q: Can I use that instead of who or whom? A: For restrictive clauses, that can replace who for people in informal style, but not after of (e.g., some of that is wrong).
Q: How to check quickly? A: Try replacing the clause: if some of them works, use some of whom. If they works, use who.
Q: Any memory trick? A: If it’s object-of-of, pick whom. If it’s subject of the clause, pick who.