Correct – and yet how formal, how stilted! The usage to be preferred in ordinary speech and writing is “Who are you, anyways?” “Whom” should be used in the nominative case only when a note of dignity or austerity is desired. For example, if a writer is dealing with a meeting of, say, the British Cabinet , it would be better to have the Primer greet a new arrival, such as an under-secretary, with a “Whom are you, anyways?” rather than a “Who are you, anyways?” – always granted that the Premier is sincerely unaware of the man’s identity. To address a person one knows by a “Whom are you?” is a mark either of incredible lapse of memory or inexcusable arrogance. “How are you?” is a much kindlier salutation.
The only problem most writers have with whose is confusing it with who’s, which look like a possessive but is really the contraction for is. In the same way that we should not confuse his with he’s (the contraction for he is or he has), we should not confuse whose with who’s.
- Who’s that walking down the street?
- Whose coat is this?
- I don’t care whose paper this is. It’s brilliant!
Whose can be used to refer to inanimate objects as well as to people, (although there is a kind of folk belief that it should refer only to humans and other mammals): “ I remember reading a book – whose title I can’t recall right now – about a boy and a basenji.’’
Correct – and yet how formal, how stilted! The usage to be preferred in ordinary speech and writing is “Who are you, anyways?” “Whom” should be used in the nominative case only when a note of dignity or austerity is desired. For example, if a writer is dealing with a meeting of, say, the British Cabinet , it would be better to have the Primer greet a new arrival, such as an under-secretary, with a “Whom are you, anyways?” rather than a “Who are you, anyways?” – always granted that the Premier is sincerely unaware of the man’s identity. To address a person one knows by a “Whom are you?” is a mark either of incredible lapse of memory or inexcusable arrogance. “How are you?” is a much kindlier salutation.
The only problem most writers have with whose is confusing it with who’s, which look like a possessive but is really the contraction for is. In the same way that we should not confuse his with he’s (the contraction for he is or he has), we should not confuse whose with who’s.
- Who’s that walking down the street?
- Whose coat is this?
- I don’t care whose paper this is. It’s brilliant!
Whose can be used to refer to inanimate objects as well as to people, (although there is a kind of folk belief that it should refer only to humans and other mammals): “ I remember reading a book – whose title I can’t recall right now – about a boy and a basenji.’’
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