The Declining Usage of 'Whom': When to Use 'Who' Instead

The pronoun 'whom' has faced a significant decline in usage over the years. This decline can be attributed to its complex nature and the evolving nature of language itself. In this article, we explore the reasons behind this change and provide guidance on when to use 'who' instead of 'whom'.

The Erasure of 'Whom': A Language Evolution

'Whom' is a case pronoun that is rapidly disappearing from common usage. This is not only a linguistic phenomenon but also an example of how languages evolve over time. English, in particular, has a pair of pronouns, 'who' and 'whom', which are gender-neutral and used to refer to an unspecified third person.

Who vs. Whom: A Primer

The correct usage of 'who' and 'whom' depends on the role they play in a sentence. 'Who' is used when the pronoun is the subject of a sentence, while 'whom' is used when it is the object. Here are some examples to illustrate:

Subject: 'Who ate my cake?'

Object: 'You want me to give the present to whom.'

Formal usage: 'To whom do I owe this honor?'

Historical naming: 'After whom was this building named?'

Declarative statement: 'You gave whom the prize.'

As we can see, the usage of 'whom' is more common in specific contexts like formal sentences or as the object in a sentence. However, the tendency in English is to place unknowns at the beginning of questions, leading to the frequent use of 'who' in both subject and object positions.

For example:

Subject: 'Who threw the ball.'

Object: 'Who did the ball land on?'

To rephrase the second sentence:

Declarative statement: 'The ball landed on X.'

However, as the volume of questions starting with 'who' increases, 'whom' becomes less prominent. This is because fewer and fewer people are taught the rules for using 'whom', leading to its gradual disappearance from everyday language.

Language Evolution and Formality

The final usage of 'whom' today is largely limited to formal language or when intentionally emphasizing strict grammatical correctness. Sentences like:

To whom do I owe this honor?

are seen as unnecessarily formal by most speakers of English.

Why 'Whom' is Disappearing

There are several factors contributing to the decline of 'whom' in modern English:

Minimal Teaching: 'Whom' is neither commonly taught in schools nor part of the regular language acquisition process for children. Most children do not learn the rules for its usage as part of their language learning journey. Broad Usage Patterns: The frequent use of 'who' in a wide range of contexts, including questions where 'whom' would be more appropriate, makes it challenging to enforce its usage through school courses. Grammar Proficiency: Forcing children to use 'whom' requires a deeper understanding of grammar than what most children acquire at that age.

Ultimately, the disappearance of 'whom' is a reflection of the changing nature of language and the increasing influence of informal, conversational language over formal, grammatically precise language.

Conclusion

The decline of 'whom' in modern English is a natural evolution of the language. While its usage remains important in formal and grammatically precise contexts, it is becoming increasingly rare in everyday speech and writing. Understanding the nuances between 'who' and 'whom' can help maintain proper grammar and precision in written and spoken English, especially in formal settings.