Some of Whom or Some of Who: Meaning, Grammar, Examples, and Correct Usage

Learning English grammar can be confusing, especially when two similar phrases seem interchangeable. One common question is whether you should write some of whom or some of who. At first glance, both look acceptable because they contain the same basic words. However, only one of them is grammatically correct in standard English.

Whether you are writing an academic paper, business email, blog post, or social media caption, knowing the correct phrase helps your writing sound clear and professional. This guide explains the meaning, grammar, and real-life usage of some of whom and some of who, including differences between American and British English, plenty of examples, alternative expressions, and practice exercises.

By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly when to use some of whom and why some of who is usually considered incorrect.

What Does “Some of Whom or Some of Who” Mean?

The phrase some of whom refers to a portion of a previously mentioned group of people. It introduces extra information about those people in a relative clause.

Example:

• The students, some of whom received scholarships, attended the ceremony.

Here, “some of whom” means that only part of the group of students received scholarships.

On the other hand, some of who is generally not considered grammatically correct in standard English because who acts as a subject pronoun, while whom functions as an object after the preposition of.

Some of Whom or Some of Who Meaning

Definition

Some of whom means:

A number of people from a group that has already been mentioned.

It connects additional information to the people already identified.

Example 1

The employees, some of whom have worked here for twenty years, received awards.

Example 2

We invited several speakers, some of whom traveled from overseas.

Example 3

She met dozens of artists, some of whom later became famous.

Why People Say “Some of Who”

Many English learners assume that because we commonly say who is, who was, and who are, the phrase some of who should also be correct.

However, after the preposition of, English requires the object form whom, not who.

Some of Whom or Some of Who Grammar

Definition

The grammar rule is simple:

Preposition (of) + Object Pronoun = Whom

Because of is a preposition, it must be followed by the object pronoun whom.

Correct:

• some of whom

Incorrect:

• some of who

Grammar Formula

Group of people + comma + some of whom + additional information

Example:

The players, some of whom were injured, continued practicing.

Why “Whom” Is Correct

Think about these examples:

• To whom
• With whom
• For whom
• About whom
• Some of whom

Each follows the same grammar rule.

Example 1

There were ten guests, some of whom arrived early.

Example 2

She interviewed five candidates, some of whom had international experience.

Example 3

We visited several museums, some of whom…? Wait—that would be incorrect because museums are not people.

Correct:

We visited several museums, some of which were over 300 years old.

Notice:

• whom → people
• which → things

Some of Whom or Some of Who Examples

Definition

Examples help show how the phrase works naturally in everyday writing.

Example 1

The children, some of whom were nervous, smiled for the camera.

Example 2

I met many entrepreneurs, some of whom started businesses before turning twenty.

Example 3

Several teachers, some of whom taught my parents, are retiring this year.

More Examples

• The authors, some of whom won national awards, attended the conference.
• We hired eight interns, some of whom now work full-time.
• The guests, some of whom had never traveled abroad, enjoyed the trip.
• She introduced us to her cousins, some of whom live in Canada.
• The volunteers, some of whom worked overnight, completed the project.
• Many applicants, some of whom held master’s degrees, applied for the role.

Difference Between “Who” and “Whom”

Understanding these two words makes the rule much easier.

Who

Who is a subject pronoun.

Examples:

• Who called you?
• Who wants pizza?
• Who wrote this article?

Whom

Whom is an object pronoun.

Examples:

• Whom did you call?
• To whom should I speak?
• With whom are you traveling?

After of, English requires whom.

USA vs UK English

American English

In modern American English, many native speakers rarely use whom in casual conversation.

They may simply rewrite the sentence.

Instead of saying:

The students, some of whom were absent…

Someone might say:

Some of the students were absent.

However, in formal writing, academic papers, journalism, and professional communication, some of whom remains the preferred and grammatically correct expression.

British English

British English tends to preserve whom slightly more often in formal writing than American English.

You’ll commonly find some of whom in newspapers, academic publications, legal documents, and government writing.

Despite conversational differences, both American and British English agree that some of whom is the correct form.

Common Mistakes

Many learners accidentally write:

❌ Some of who

Correct it to:

✅ Some of whom

Other mistakes include:

❌ Some whom

✅ Some of whom

❌ Some of which (when talking about people)

✅ Some of whom

❌ Some of whom (when referring to objects)

✅ Some of which

Other Ways to Say “Some of Whom”

Depending on the sentence, you can use alternatives such as:

• Some of the people
• A few of them
• Several of them
• A number of whom
• Many of whom
• Few of whom
• Most of whom
• None of whom
• Each of whom
• One of whom
• Two of whom
• Several among them
• Certain members of the group
• Part of the group
• A handful of them

Quick Grammar Tips

• Use whom after the preposition of.
• Use who as the subject of a clause.
• Use whom only for people.
• Use which for things.
• Formal writing prefers whom.
• Academic writing almost always uses some of whom.
• Business emails benefit from correct grammar.
• Rewrite the sentence if it sounds awkward.
• Don’t replace whom with who after of.
• Read the sentence aloud to test its flow.
• Identify whether you’re referring to people or objects.
• Remember: “of” signals the object form.
• “Some of whom” introduces extra information.
• The phrase usually follows a comma.
• It appears in nonessential relative clauses.

Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct word.

1. The students, some of _____ won prizes, celebrated together.
2. We interviewed ten candidates, some of _____ had years of experience.
3. The visitors, some of _____ came from Canada, stayed for two days.
4. I met several doctors, some of _____ specialize in children’s health.
5. The volunteers, some of _____ worked overnight, finished the task.
6. She introduced me to her cousins, some of _____ live in Australia.
7. The guests, some of _____ arrived late, missed dinner.
8. We invited many speakers, some of _____ accepted immediately.

Answers

1. whom
2. whom
3. whom
4. whom
5. whom
6. whom
7. whom
8. whom

Tips and Tricks

1. After of, use whom.
2. Use who only as the subject.
3. Use whom only for people.
4. Use which for objects.
5. Remember “of + whom.”
6. Formal English prefers whom.
7. If unsure, rewrite the sentence.
8. Read professional writing for examples.

Conclusion

The difference between some of whom and some of who is straightforward once you understand the role of who and whom in English grammar. Since of is a preposition, the correct expression is some of whom whenever you refer to people. Although many native speakers avoid whom in casual conversation, it remains the standard choice in formal writing across both American and British English. By practicing the examples and remembering the simple rule “of + whom,” you’ll write with greater confidence, accuracy, and professionalism in every situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between some of whom and some of who?

Some of whom is the grammatically correct phrase because whom is the object of the preposition of. Some of who is considered incorrect in standard English.

Is “some of who” ever grammatically correct?

No. In formal and standard English grammar, some of who is incorrect. You should always use some of whom when referring to people.

Why do we use “whom” instead of “who”?

We use whom because it follows the preposition of. In English grammar, object pronouns like whom are required after prepositions.

Can I use “some of whom” in everyday conversation?

Yes, although many native speakers simplify the sentence in casual speech. In writing and formal communication, some of whom is the preferred choice.

Is “some of whom” used in both American and British English?

Yes. Both American and British English recognize some of whom as the correct grammatical form, though British English tends to use whom more frequently in formal writing.

Can I use “some of whom” for things or objects?

No. Some of whom is only used for people. When referring to things, animals, or objects, use some of which instead.

How can I remember when to use “whom”?

A simple trick is to remember that whom follows prepositions such as of, to, with, for, and about. If you see one of these words before the pronoun, whom is usually the correct choice.

What are some alternatives to “some of whom”?

Depending on the sentence, you can use phrases like some of the people, a few of them, several of them, many of whom, or most of whom.

Is “some of whom” common in academic writing?

Yes. It is widely used in academic papers, professional reports, research articles, and formal business writing because it follows standard English grammar rules.

How do I avoid mistakes with “some of whom”?

First, identify whether you’re referring to people. Then check if the pronoun follows the preposition of. If both are true, some of whom is almost always the correct choice.