Language

Who Else or Whom Else: Which Is Correct? Simple Grammar Guide

by
Tia
01.09.2026

“Who else” and “whom else” can both be correct, but they do not serve the same grammatical role. The choice depends on whether the person being mentioned acts as the subject or functions as the object of a verb or preposition.

For everyday English, “who else” is by far the more natural choice. “Whom else” still has a place in formal writing when the pronoun functions as an object.

For example:

“Who else is coming to dinner?” uses “who” because the person is the subject of “is coming.”

“Whom else did you invite?” uses “whom” because the person is the object of “invite.”

The word “else” does not change this rule. It simply means another person or an additional person.

What Does “Who Else” Mean?

“Who else” asks about another person or group of people in addition to someone already mentioned or understood from the context.

For example:

“Sarah is coming. Who else is coming?”

Here, “who else” means “which other person or people are coming?”

You can use “who else” in questions about people who perform an action, have a quality, or occupy a particular role.

Examples:

“Who else wants coffee?”

“Who else knows the answer?”

“Who else is joining the meeting?”

“Who else can help us?”

“Who else lives in this building?”

In each sentence, “who else” is connected to the subject of the clause.

What Does “Whom Else” Mean?

“Whom else” refers to another person who functions as the object of a verb or follows a preposition.

For example:

“Whom else did you invite?”

The implied statement is:

“You invited him.”

Since “him” is an object pronoun, “whom” is the traditional grammatical form.

Other examples include:

“Whom else did you contact?”

“Whom else should we ask?”

“Whom else have they interviewed?”

“To whom else should I send the documents?”

“With whom else did you travel?”

“Whom else” is grammatically sound, but it sounds formal to many English speakers. In ordinary conversation, people usually say “who else” even when traditional grammar would call for “whom else.”

Who Else vs Whom Else

The simplest way to understand the difference is to look at the role of the pronoun.

Expression	Grammatical role	Example
Who else	Subject	Who else wants to join?
Whom else	Object	Whom else did you invite?
Who else	Subject	Who else knows about this?
Whom else	Object	Whom else did she call?
Whom else	Object after preposition	To whom else should I speak?

The key question is not where “else” appears. The key question is what “who” or “whom” does in the sentence.

The Easy He or Him Test

When you are unsure, replace “who” with “he” and “whom” with “him.”

This works because “who” corresponds to subject forms such as “he” and “she,” while “whom” corresponds to object forms such as “him” and “her.”

Example 1: Who Else

“Who else is coming?”

Try the replacement:

“He is coming.”

“He” works, so “who” is the right choice.

Correct:

“Who else is coming?”

Example 2: Whom Else

“Whom else did you invite?”

Try the replacement:

“I invited him.”

“Him” works, so “whom” fits the traditional grammatical rule.

Correct:

“Whom else did you invite?”

Another Quick Example

“Who else wants pizza?”

“He wants pizza.”

Use “who.”

“Whom else did you call?”

“I called him.”

Use “whom.”

This test is often easier than trying to remember technical grammar terminology.

When Should You Use “Who Else”?

Use “who else” when the person is the subject of the sentence.

When the Person Performs the Action

“Who else wrote the report?”

The unknown person performed the action of writing.

“Who else called you?”

The unknown person performed the action of calling.

“Who else attended the event?”

The unknown person performed the action of attending.

When the Person Has a Particular Role or State

“Who else is available?”

“Who else is responsible?”

“Who else is interested?”

“Who else was there?”

In each case, “who else” identifies the subject.

When Should You Use “Whom Else”?

Use “whom else” when the person is the object of a verb or preposition, particularly in formal writing.

After a Verb

Consider:

“Whom else did you invite?”

The subject is “you.” The person receiving the action of “invite” is the object.

More examples:

“Whom else did you meet?”

“Whom else did the company hire?”

“Whom else did they contact?”

“Whom else should we interview?”

In casual conversation, “who else” is far more common:

“Who else did you invite?”

“Who else did you meet?”

“Who else should we interview?”

These forms sound natural to most speakers.

After a Preposition

Traditional formal grammar uses “whom” after prepositions such as “to,” “with,” “for,” and “from.”

Examples:

“To whom else should I send the email?”

“With whom else did you speak?”

“For whom else was the package intended?”

“From whom else did you receive information?”

These constructions are grammatically formal and can sound stiff in ordinary conversation.

A more conversational version would be:

“Who else should I send the email to?”

“Who else did you speak with?”

“Who else was the package for?”

“Who else did you get the information from?”

Both styles are understandable. Your choice depends on the level of formality you want.

Why “Who Else” Is More Common Today

English usage has changed over time. “Whom” still exists, but many speakers use “who” in places where older grammar rules would call for “whom.”

This is especially common in conversation, text messages, online communication, and informal writing.

For example:

“Who else did you invite?”

Most readers will find this completely natural.

“Whom else did you invite?”

This is grammatically defensible, but it sounds more formal.

That difference matters when you are writing for a particular audience. A school assignment, formal report, or carefully edited document can call for traditional grammar. A text message between friends does not need the same level of formality.

Is “Who Else” Ever Correct When the Person Is an Object?

Yes.

In modern English, “who” is widely used as an object, especially in informal communication.

For example:

“Who else did you see at the restaurant?”

Under traditional grammar, “whom else” would be the formal object form:

“Whom else did you see at the restaurant?”

Both are easy to understand, but “who else” sounds much more natural in everyday English.

This is one reason the simple rule “always use whom for objects” does not fully describe how modern English works.

Common Examples of “Who Else”

Here are natural examples you can use in everyday English:

“Who else is coming tonight?”

“Who else wants some tea?”

“Who else knows about the plan?”

“Who else can solve this problem?”

“Who else saw the accident?”

“Who else works here?”

“Who else should we invite?”

“Who else did you talk to?”

Notice that the last two examples use “who” in an object position. This is common in ordinary English.

Common Examples of “Whom Else”

“Whom else did you invite?”

“Whom else did she contact?”

“Whom else should we consult?”

“Whom else have you interviewed?”

“To whom else should the letter be addressed?”

“With whom else did he discuss the matter?”

These forms suit formal or traditional writing better.

Common Mistakes With Who Else and Whom Else

Mistake 1: Using “Whom” Before a Verb When It Is the Subject

Incorrect:

“Whom else is coming?”

Here, the person is the subject of “is coming.”

Better:

“Who else is coming?”

The replacement test makes the answer clear:

“He is coming.”

Not:

“Him is coming.”

Mistake 2: Assuming “Whom” Always Sounds More Correct

Some writers use “whom” whenever they want to sound formal. That can create errors.

For example:

“Whom else is attending the meeting?”

The sentence uses “whom” as the subject.

Correct:

“Who else is attending the meeting?”

Formal writing does not mean using “whom” everywhere.

Mistake 3: Thinking “Else” Determines the Choice

“Else” does not decide whether you need “who” or “whom.”

Compare:

“Who else called?”

“Whom else did you call?”

The word “else” appears in both. The grammatical role of the pronoun changes.

Mistake 4: Ignoring the Preposition

Consider:

“To whom else should I speak?”

“Whom” follows the preposition “to,” so the formal construction uses “whom.”

In casual English, you will often hear:

“Who else should I speak to?”

This version is natural in conversation.

Who Else or Whom Else in Formal Writing?

If you are writing an academic paper, business document, formal letter, or other carefully edited text, check the grammatical role of the pronoun.

Use “who else” when the phrase is the subject.

Example:

“Who else attended the conference?”

Use “whom else” when the phrase is the object.

Example:

“Whom else did the committee interview?”

Use “whom” after a preposition in formal constructions.

Example:

“To whom else should the application be sent?”

That approach keeps the traditional distinction clear.

Who Else or Whom Else in Text Messages and Casual Speech?

For casual communication, “who else” is usually the better choice.

Examples:

“Who else is coming?”

“Who else wants food?”

“Who else did you invite?”

“Who else did you talk to?”

These sentences sound normal in everyday English.

Using “whom else” in a casual text can sound unusually formal:

“Whom else did you invite?”

There is nothing inherently wrong with the grammar, but the tone can feel out of place.

A Simple Decision Guide

When choosing between the two forms, follow these steps:

Find the person being asked about.
Ask whether that person performs the action.
If yes, use “who else.”
If the person receives the action, “whom else” is the traditional formal form.
If a preposition directly comes before the pronoun, use “whom” in formal writing.
In casual conversation, “who else” is usually the natural choice.

For example:

“Who else joined the team?”

The person joined the team, so “who” is the subject.

“Whom else did you add to the team?”

“You” added the person, so the person is the object.

Who Else vs Whom Else: Quick Reference

“Who else” is the natural choice for most everyday questions.

“Whom else” is the traditional object form and fits formal writing.

Use the he/him test when you are unsure.

“He” or “she” works → “who.”

“Him” or “her” works → “whom.”

There is one more practical point. If your sentence sounds awkward with “whom,” you can often rewrite it.

Instead of:

“To whom else should I send the message?”

You can write:

“Who else should I send the message to?”

The second version is more conversational.

Final Takeaway

“Who else” and “whom else” are both legitimate forms, but they serve different grammatical roles.

Use “who else” when the person is the subject:

“Who else is coming?”

Use “whom else” when the person is the object in formal or traditional grammar:

“Whom else did you invite?”

After a preposition, formal English generally uses “whom”:

“To whom else should I speak?”

For everyday English, “who else” is usually the most natural choice. When grammar gets confusing, replace the unknown person with “he” or “him.” If “he” works, choose “who.” If “him” works, choose “whom.”

Is “who else” or “whom else” correct?

Both can be correct. “Who else” is used for a subject, while “whom else” is the traditional object form. In everyday English, “who else” is much more common.

Which is more common, “who else” or “whom else”?

“Who else” is much more common in modern conversation and informal writing. “Whom else” appears more often in formal or traditional writing.

Is “whom else” grammatically correct?

Yes. For example, “Whom else did you invite?” follows the traditional subject and object distinction because the person is the object of “invite.”

Is “who else did you invite?” correct?

Yes. This is a very common construction in modern English, especially in conversation and informal writing. Traditional grammar would use “whom else,” but modern usage widely accepts “who” in this position.

Should I use “who else” in a formal email?

If the phrase is the subject, use “who else.” If the phrase is an object, “whom else” is appropriate under traditional formal grammar. You can also rewrite the sentence to avoid the issue.