Have you ever written a question such as “Who else is coming?” and then wondered whether it should be “Whom else is coming?”? You are not alone. The confusion between who else or whom else usually comes from the difference between who and whom. Both words refer to people, but they do not always perform the same grammatical job.
The good news is that the basic rule is easier than it may seem. Who is traditionally used for the subject of a clause, while whom is traditionally used for the object of a verb or preposition. The word else simply means “in addition to the person or people already mentioned or considered.” It does not change whether who or whom is grammatically appropriate.
In everyday American English, who else is extremely common and often sounds natural even when the pronoun functions as an object. Whom else is also possible, especially in formal writing, when the pronoun is clearly the object.
So, which one should you choose? The answer depends on the grammatical role of the pronoun and the level of formality you want. Day Off vs Off Day | Some of Whom or Some of Who | Marquee vs Marquis
Quick Answer: Who Else or Whom Else?
“Who else” and “whom else” can both be correct, but they are used in different grammatical situations.
Use who else when the person is the subject of the clause, as in “Who else wants to join us?” Use whom else when the person is the object in a formal construction, as in “Whom else did you invite?” However, in modern everyday US English, “who else did you invite?” is much more natural and widely used.
The key question is simple: Is the person doing the action or receiving the action?
Understanding the Basics: Who Else vs. Whom Else
The difference between who else and whom else comes from the traditional distinction between who and whom.
What Does “Who Else” Mean?
Who else asks about another person or group of people in addition to someone already mentioned, considered, or expected.
For example:
- Who else is coming to the party?
- Who else wants pizza?
- Who else knows about this?
- Who else can help us?
Here, who usually functions as the subject of the verb.
What Does “Whom Else” Mean?
Whom else asks about another person who is the object of a verb or preposition.
For example:
- Whom else did you invite?
- Whom else should I contact?
- With whom else did you speak?
In these sentences, the person is receiving an action or completing a prepositional relationship.
Traditional grammar therefore distinguishes the two forms based on grammatical function.
Comparison Table
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example | Correct/Incorrect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who else | Subject pronoun | Which other person or people? | Who else is coming? | Correct |
| Who else | Informal object use | Which other person? | Who else did you call? | Common and acceptable in modern English |
| Whom else | Object pronoun | Which other person? | Whom else did you call? | Grammatically traditional/formal |
| Whom else | Object after preposition | Which other person? | With whom else did you speak? | Correct and formal |
| Whom else | Subject position | Which other person? | Whom else wants to come? | Incorrect in traditional grammar |
Cambridge Dictionary explains that whom is the object form of who and is especially associated with formal styles or writing. It also notes that who is widely used in modern English, including in positions where traditional grammar might prescribe whom.
Correct Meanings and Uses
1. Use “Who Else” as the Subject
The clearest use of who else is when the pronoun performs the action described by the verb.
Consider:
Who else wants to come?
The verb is wants. The person who wants to come is the subject.
You can identify the structure like this:
- Who else = subject
- wants = verb
- to come = infinitive phrase
Therefore, who else is the traditional grammatical choice.
More examples:
- Who else knows the answer?
- Who else lives here?
- Who else works on this project?
- Who else wants some coffee?
- Who else can solve this problem?
In each sentence, the unknown person is doing or experiencing something.
2. Use “Whom Else” as an Object in Formal English
Use whom else when the person is the object of a verb, especially when you want a formal or traditional grammatical style.
For example:
Whom else did you invite?
The subject is you.
The verb is invite.
The unknown person is the object of invite.
So, under the traditional subject-object rule:
You invited whom else?
That makes whom the formal object form.
Other examples include:
- Whom else did the manager contact?
- Whom else should we notify?
- Whom else have you interviewed?
- Whom else did she ask?
These constructions are grammatically sound, but they can sound more formal than their versions with who.
3. Use “Who Else” in Everyday American English
Modern American English frequently uses who where traditional grammar would use whom, particularly in questions.
For example:
Who else did you invite?
This sentence is extremely natural in everyday conversation.
You might technically analyze who as an object of invite, but modern English often favors who because whom is relatively formal.
Cambridge notes that who can be used as both subject and object in questions, while whom is more formal when functioning as an object.
That means you should not assume that every sentence containing “who else” is grammatically wrong.
4. Use “Whom Else” After a Preposition in Formal Writing
One of the strongest environments for whom is after a preposition.
For example:
With whom else did you speak?
Here, whom is the object of the preposition with.
Other examples:
- For whom else was the meeting arranged?
- To whom else should I send the document?
- About whom else were they talking?
- From whom else could we get this information?
These forms are formal and grammatically traditional.
In everyday American English, people are more likely to say:
- Who else did you speak with?
- Who else should I send the document to?
- Who else were they talking about?
Both styles communicate the same basic idea, but the first set sounds more formal.
How to Test Whether You Need “Who” or “Whom”
A useful traditional test is to replace the unknown person with he/him or she/her.
If he/she fits, use who.
If him/her fits, use whom.
Example 1
Who else is coming?
Try:
He is coming.
That works.
Therefore:
Who else is coming? ✅
Example 2
Whom else did you invite?
Try:
I invited him.
That works.
Therefore:
Whom else did you invite? ✅
But remember that modern English commonly changes the second sentence to:
Who else did you invite?
This is especially natural in conversation.
Test Tip 📝
Use this quick test:
He/she → who
Him/her → whom
For example:
- Who else called? → She called. → Who
- Whom else did you call? → I called him. → Whom
The test is useful, but it describes the traditional distinction. Modern US English often uses who in object questions, so context and formality still matter.
A Real-Life Case Study: Workplace Communication
Imagine that a manager sends an email to a team:
“We need two more people to help with Friday’s presentation. Who else is available?”
This is completely natural.
Why?
Because who else is the subject of is available.
Now imagine the manager wants to ask which other people have already received an invitation:
“Whom else did you invite to the presentation?”
This is formally grammatical because whom is the object of invite.
However, most modern American professionals would probably write:
“Who else did you invite to the presentation?”
This version is clear, natural, and widely accepted.
What Should You Use at Work?
For ordinary workplace emails, who else is usually the safest choice when the sentence sounds conversational.
For highly formal writing, legal documents, academic prose, or situations where the traditional object form is deliberately maintained, whom else may be appropriate.
The goal is not to make every sentence sound formal. The goal is to make the sentence clear, accurate, and appropriate for its context.
Grammar Rules: Why “Who Else” and “Whom Else” Differ
The traditional distinction is based on grammatical case.
“Who” as a Subject
Who is traditionally the subjective form.
Examples:
- Who called?
- Who else knows?
- Who else wants to participate?
The person represented by who performs the action or occupies the subject position.
“Whom” as an Object
Whom is traditionally the objective form.
Examples:
- Whom did you call?
- Whom else did they invite?
- To whom else should we speak?
The person represented by whom receives the action or follows a preposition.
Cambridge Dictionary specifically describes whom as the object form of who and explains that it is used especially in formal styles and writing.
Why Do People Say “Who” Instead of “Whom”?
Language changes over time.
In contemporary English, whom is less common in everyday speech than it once was. Speakers frequently use who for both subject and object positions.
For example:
Who did you see?
Traditional grammar might prefer:
Whom did you see?
But the first version is normal in everyday English.
Cambridge’s American Dictionary similarly notes that whom is the formal form used when who is the object of a verb or preposition.
So, the important point is:
“Whom else” is not automatically better than “who else.”
It is more formal when whom is functioning as an object.
Common Mistakes With “Who Else” and “Whom Else”
Why do people make mistakes with these words? Several factors are involved.
1. Fast Typing
When people write quickly, they often choose the form that feels natural.
For many American English speakers, who feels more natural than whom.
That can lead to sentences such as:
Who else did you invite?
This is not a serious communication problem. In modern English, it is common and readily understood.
2. Autocorrect
Phones and writing software can sometimes reinforce the form a writer normally uses.
If you rarely use whom, your device may make who feel like the obvious choice.
3. Lack of Knowledge
Some writers were never taught the traditional difference between subject and object pronouns.
As a result, they may treat who and whom as completely interchangeable.
Although modern usage has reduced the distinction, understanding the traditional rule is still valuable for formal writing.
4. Overcorrecting
The opposite mistake also happens.
Some writers learn that whom is “more correct” and start using it everywhere.
For example:
Whom else wants to join us? ❌
This is not correct under the traditional subject-object rule.
The correct sentence is:
Who else wants to join us? ✅
The word whom should not be inserted simply to make a sentence sound sophisticated.
Similar Grammar Confusions
The confusion between who and whom is part of a larger group of commonly confused English forms.
| Common Confusion | Correct Choice | Basic Rule |
|---|---|---|
| it’s / its | Depends on meaning | It’s = it is; its = possessive |
| your / you’re | Depends on meaning | Your = possession; you’re = you are |
| their / they’re | Depends on meaning | Their = possession; they’re = they are |
| affect / effect | Depends on function | Affect is usually a verb; effect is usually a noun |
| then / than | Depends on meaning | Than is for comparison; then relates to time/order |
| who / whom | Depends on function/formality | Who is traditional subject form; whom is object form |
| its / it’s | Depends on meaning | Possession vs. contraction |
| farther / further | Depends on context | Physical distance vs. broader/figurative use |
These mistakes are common because English contains many forms that sound similar or have overlapping modern usage.
Usage in Different Contexts
Everyday Conversation 🗣️
In everyday American conversation, who else is extremely common.
Examples:
- Who else is coming?
- Who else knows?
- Who else wants dessert?
- Who else did you talk to?
The last example uses who as an object, but this is natural in contemporary English.
Using whom in casual conversation can sound unusually formal:
Whom else did you talk to?
It is grammatical in the traditional sense, but many speakers would naturally say:
Who else did you talk to?
Professional Writing 💼
Professional writing requires attention to context.
For a normal email:
Who else needs to review this report?
This is natural and professional.
For a highly formal sentence:
Whom else should the committee contact?
This can work when a formal style is desired.
However, clarity should always come first.
Creative Writing ✍️
Creative writers have more freedom.
A character might naturally say:
Who else would do something like that?
A narrator or formal character might say:
Whom else could the detective trust?
The choice can help establish voice and tone.
Social Media and Texting 📱
On social media and in text messages, who else is overwhelmingly natural.
Examples:
- Who else is obsessed with this song?
- Who else thinks this is funny?
- Who else is awake?
- Who else wants to go?
Using whom else in a casual post can sound overly formal unless that effect is intentional.
Why “Who Else” Matters
Correct pronoun choice helps readers understand a sentence quickly.
Clarity in Communication
A sentence such as:
Who else wants to join?
is immediately clear.
The reader understands that the question asks for another person who wants to participate.
Professionalism
In formal writing, knowing the difference between who and whom demonstrates control of traditional grammar.
However, professionalism does not mean using whom whenever possible.
Professional writing should be:
- Clear
- Natural
- Accurate
- Appropriate for the audience
- Consistent in tone
Digital Communication
Online writing moves quickly. People read emails, messages, captions, comments, and posts on small screens and often scan rather than read every word.
A simple sentence such as “Who else is interested?” is direct and easy to understand.
Good grammar should support communication, not make communication harder.
That principle is especially important in modern digital writing.
Special Exception and Modern Usage
There is an important modern-English exception to the traditional rule: who can function as an object in ordinary usage.
For example:
Who else did you invite?
Traditional grammar would favor:
Whom else did you invite?
But modern English widely accepts and uses the first version.
Cambridge explicitly notes that who can be used as the subject or object in questions, while whom is associated more strongly with formal styles.
This means you should avoid a simplistic rule such as:
“Always use whom after a verb.”
That rule does not accurately describe contemporary American English.
A better rule is:
Use “who” for subjects. Use “whom” for objects when you want a formal or traditional style. In everyday US English, “who” is often preferred even when it is technically an object.
Who Else or Whom Else in Questions?
Questions are where this distinction appears most often.
Subject Question
Who else called you?
The unknown person performed the action.
Answer:
Maria called me.
Therefore, who is appropriate.
Object Question
Whom else did you call?
The subject is you.
You performed the action.
The unknown person received the action.
Answer:
I called Maria.
Traditional grammar therefore favors whom.
But in everyday American English:
Who else did you call?
is much more natural.
Prepositional Question
With whom else did you go?
This is formal.
In ordinary conversation:
Who else did you go with?
is much more natural.
Both communicate the same basic meaning.
Quick Recap Checklist
Use this table as a fast reference when deciding between who else and whom else.
| Question | If Yes → Use |
|---|---|
| Is the person the subject of the verb? | Who else |
| Is the person doing the action? | Who else |
| Is the person the object of a verb in formal writing? | Whom else |
| Does the sentence follow a preposition in formal writing? | Whom else |
| Are you writing casual American English? | Usually who else |
| Are you deliberately using traditional/formal grammar? | Whom else for an object |
Practice Examples
1. ___ else wants to come?
Answer: Who else
Why? The unknown person is the subject of wants.
2. ___ else did you invite?
Formal answer: Whom else
Natural modern US English: Who else
3. With ___ else did she speak?
Answer: Whom else
Why? The pronoun follows the preposition with, and the formal object form is whom.
More Examples of “Who Else”
Here are examples where who else is clearly the best choice:
- Who else knows the truth?
- Who else wants to participate?
- Who else can answer this question?
- Who else is attending the meeting?
- Who else lives in this building?
- Who else remembers that day?
- Who else wants to order food?
- Who else has seen this movie?
- Who else understands the instructions?
- Who else could help us?
In each case, who else introduces a person or group that is the subject of the following verb.
More Examples of “Whom Else”
Here are formal examples where whom else functions as an object:
- Whom else did the director interview?
- Whom else did you contact?
- Whom else should we inform?
- Whom else did she invite?
- Whom else have they consulted?
- Whom else did the committee question?
- Whom else should the company notify?
- Whom else did the lawyer represent?
These sentences follow the traditional object rule.
In many everyday situations, however, Americans would naturally replace whom else with who else.
“Who Else” vs “Whom Else”: Side-by-Side Examples
| Sentence | Traditional Analysis | Modern US Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Who else called? | Correct | Natural |
| Who else is coming? | Correct | Natural |
| Whom else did you call? | Correct | Formal |
| Who else did you call? | Object use of who | Very natural |
| With whom else did you speak? | Correct | Formal |
| Who else did you speak with? | Informal/preposition at end | Very natural |
| Whom else should we invite? | Correct | Formal |
| Who else should we invite? | Common object use | Natural |
| Whom else wants to come? | Incorrect | Incorrect |
| Who else wants to come? | Correct | Natural |
This table highlights the most important point: “whom” is not simply a more sophisticated version of “who.”
FAQs
1. Is “who else” grammatically correct?
Yes. Who else is grammatically correct when the person is the subject of the clause. It is also extremely common in modern American English when the person is the object of a verb.
2. Is “whom else” correct?
Yes. Whom else is correct when whom functions as an object, especially in formal or traditional writing.
For example:
Whom else did you invite?
Here, whom is the object of invite.
3. Which is correct: “Who else did you invite?” or “Whom else did you invite?”
Both can be used. Whom else did you invite? follows the traditional object rule and sounds formal. Who else did you invite? is extremely common and natural in modern American English.
4. Is “whom else wants to come?” correct?
No. The traditional correct form is:
Who else wants to come?
The person represented by who is the subject of wants.
5. Should I use “who else” in everyday conversation?
Yes. Who else is usually the most natural choice in everyday American English. Using whom can sound formal, especially in casual speech.
6. How can I quickly remember who vs. whom?
Try replacing the pronoun with he/she or him/her.
- He/she → who
- Him/her → whom
For example:
Who else called? → She called.
Whom else did you call? → I called him.
Remember, though, that modern English often uses who in object questions too.
Conclusion
The choice between who else or whom else depends mainly on grammatical function and level of formality. Traditionally, who is the subject form, while whom is the object form. Therefore, “Who else wants to come?” is correct because who else is the subject of wants. In a formal construction such as “Whom else did you invite?”, whom else is correct because it functions as the object of invite.
However, modern American English has moved toward using who more broadly. That is why “Who else did you invite?” sounds completely natural to most speakers, even though traditional grammar would prefer “whom.” Cambridge Dictionary recognizes this broader modern use of who while describing whom as the formal object form.
The easiest rule is this: use “who else” for subjects, and use “whom else” for objects when a formal or traditional style calls for it.
When in doubt, choose clarity and consider your audience. In everyday US English, who else will usually sound natural. In formal writing, whom else can be the better choice when it clearly functions as an object.
Remember: “Who” usually does the action; “whom” receives it.
Hi, I am Ava Mitchell. I work at Synolixa as an English content writer, creating simple and useful resources about synonyms, vocabulary, and English usage.
[…] contexts, and easy memory tips. By the end, you will know exactly when to use each verb. ✨ Who Else or Whom Else | Day Off vs Off Day | Some of Whom or Some of […]