By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Does any English speaker actually use the word 'whom'?
As a teacher of English, (and a native speaker), I have had this conversation with some of my colleagues.
Does anyone actually use this word in day to day English, or is it, in effect, a dead word?
I think I've used it perhaps twice in two years and both times that was just to show it's useage to a class, not in 'everyday' speech.
14 years 8 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
To whom it may concern,
I still see this used in some letters, it still seems fitting.
I also say it the odd time (maybe 6 times a year).
I think it is not needed, but also I am glad it is still kickin' around
mainly use it for emails rarely use it in day to day conversations.
I would not think it to be quite dead yet! It still has it's use- consider the following:
To whom are you referring ?
To who are you referring ?
I think we can all agree that 'whom' is much more pleasing to the eye/ear/intellect.
Hugh.G.Rection:
Yes, in that context whom would be much better and sound much nicer, but I think personally I would be more likely to ask "Who are you talking about"?
Of course that's just me.
To whom it may concern is common
Hugh.G.Rection:
I agree, I use it fairly regularly in writing, but I don't think I've ever used it in speech.
No. It's pretty much a dead word, unless a speaker/writer is intending to be formal. I heard one of my students (in the states) use it once about 6 years ago. I almost cried.
Yep, dead word when you consider how little it is used. Even sounds Shakespearian, like thou or thine.....or parsley.
Only in formal situations and only in the written form i.e. To whom it may concern......
i use it regularly... i guess.... atleast 3-4 times a month... just a guess
I believe the term we need to use here is....
...the dative....
my spelling suck do you men the one the sound like [whooowm does the bell toll] if it is that one then very often.
just read trough comments it is that one i use it all the time, why would you not use it.
I heard it some times from Brits, but not from other nations.
Oh, and, sometimes, from English teachers in Poland.
I'm not English native, I only say what I hear 
Well, I can't say I've heard it used by other people in colloquial speech, but I (a 30-something American) do use it.
I'm probably the only person in my generation who does... :(
I am and i use it from day to day,though some they dont.
Nope; and I never teach it. It's practically Shakespearean.
