If you have ever paused before writing “Who else” or “Whom else,” you are not alone. The choice can feel confusing because traditional grammar gives who and whom different jobs. Modern English, however, is more flexible than the old rule suggests.
In most everyday American English, who else is the natural choice. You can use it when asking which other person or people are involved, even when traditional grammar would classify who as an object.
Whom else is still correct in certain formal constructions. It is especially common when whom functions as the object of a verb or follows a preposition in formal writing.
The important point is that “else” does not decide whether you need who or whom. The grammatical role and level of formality matter.
Let’s look at the difference carefully so you can choose the version that sounds right for your situation.
Quick Answer: Who Else or Whom Else?
Who else is the best choice for most modern English, especially in everyday American speech and writing.
For example:
Who else is coming to the party?
Who else knows about the change?
Who else did you invite?
The third example is especially important. In traditional grammar, whom could be used because the pronoun is the object of invite. Yet who is completely normal in modern English.
Whom else is not incorrect. It is the more traditional object form and is most useful in formal writing or in constructions where a formal tone is appropriate.
For example:
Whom else did the committee interview?
To whom else should I send the report?
Modern grammar references recognize that who can function as an object, while whom remains the formal object form.
The Simple Rule
If you are writing ordinary American English and are unsure, who else will usually be the better choice.
Use whom else when you deliberately want a formal or traditional style, especially after a preposition.
Else at a Glance
The easiest way to see the difference is to compare the two forms directly.
| Expression | Typical use | Style | Example |
| Who else | Subject or modern object | Natural and widely used | Who else is coming? |
| Who else | Object in modern English | Conversational to standard | Who else did you invite? |
| Whom else | Traditional object | Formal | Whom else did you invite? |
| To whom else | Object after a preposition | Very formal | To whom else should I speak? |
| Who else … to? | Object with final preposition | Natural modern English | Who else should I speak to? |
This table highlights an important change in English usage. The traditional distinction between who and whom still exists, but modern English does not always maintain it strictly.
Cambridge notes that who can be used as both a subject and an object, while whom is mainly used as an object in formal styles.
So these two sentences can both work:
Who else did you contact?
Whom else did you contact?
The first sounds much more natural to many modern speakers. The second has a more formal or traditional tone.
What Do “Who,” “Whom,” and “Else” Mean?
Before deciding between who else and whom else, it helps to understand what each word contributes.
What Does “Who” Mean?
Who is an interrogative pronoun used to ask about a person or people.
For example:
Who called you?
Who is waiting outside?
Who should we invite?
The word can refer to one person or several people depending on the context.
Modern English also allows who to function as an object.
For example:
Who did you meet?
Here, you is the subject and who is the object of meet. Traditional grammar may prefer whom in this position, but modern English commonly uses who. Cambridge’s grammar guidance explicitly recognizes this object use.
That point matters when you are deciding between who else and whom else.
What Does “Whom” Mean?
Whom is traditionally the object form of who.
It refers to a person who receives or is affected by an action, or who follows a preposition in a formal construction.
For example:
Whom did you invite?
The person represented by whom is the person receiving the action of inviting.
Another example is:
To whom should I send this letter?
Here, whom follows the preposition to.
In current English, whom is much more common in formal writing than in ordinary conversation.
That does not make whom outdated or wrong. It simply means you should understand its register before using it.
What Does “Else” Add?
Else means something like another person, another thing, or in addition to the person or thing already mentioned.
Compare:
Who is coming?
with:
Who else is coming?
The first asks for a person without implying that someone else has already been mentioned.
The second suggests that one or more people are already known or expected.
For example:
Sarah is coming. Who else is coming?
Here, else means “which other person or people?”
The same idea applies to whom else:
I already interviewed Mark. Whom else should I interview?
The word else does not change the basic grammatical role of the pronoun. It simply adds the meaning of another or additional.
Does “Else” Change the Grammar?
No. This is one of the most useful points to remember.
Else does not turn who into a subject or whom into an object.
Instead, look at the entire sentence.
Compare:
Who else is attending?
In this sentence, who else is the subject of is attending.
Now compare:
Who else did you invite?
Here, who else is the object of invite in traditional grammatical analysis.
Yet modern English commonly uses who in both positions.
Now consider the formal version:
Whom else did you invite?
This follows the traditional subject-object distinction more closely.
So the presence of else does not create a special grammar rule. It works with both forms.
The real issue is whether who or whom fits the grammatical construction and the level of formality you want.
Who Else: When and Why to Use It
For most readers, who else is the form worth learning first.
It is natural, flexible, and widely used in modern English.
Who Else as a Subject
Use who else when the person being identified performs the action or serves as the subject of the clause.
For example:
Who else wants some coffee?
Who else knows the answer?
Who else is joining us?
Who else called this morning?
In each sentence, who else identifies the person responsible for the action or state.
A useful test is to answer the question with a person’s name:
Who else called?
Maria called.
Maria is doing the calling, so the unknown person represented by who else is the subject.
Who Else as an Object in Modern English
This is where traditional grammar and modern usage can appear to disagree.
Consider:
Who else did you invite?
The traditional object form would be:
Whom else did you invite?
However, who else did you invite? is entirely normal in modern English.
The same pattern appears in everyday questions:
Who else did you see?
Who else did you talk to?
Who else should I ask?
Who else can we contact?
Current grammar references recognize who as an object in questions.
This means you should not automatically label every object use of who as grammatically wrong.
Who Else in Everyday American English
If you are speaking with friends, coworkers, classmates, or family members, who else will usually sound natural.
For example:
Who else is coming over tonight?
Who else wants to go?
Who else did you hear from?
Who else should we invite?
These sentences sound straightforward because modern spoken English generally favors who over whom.
Cambridge specifically notes that whom is not normally used in speech and is more common in writing, particularly formal writing.
That makes who else a strong default for everyday communication.
Who Else in Professional Writing
Professional writing does not automatically require whom.
For example, these sentences are perfectly natural:
Who else should we include in the meeting?
Who else needs a copy of the report?
Who else should I contact about this issue?
Who else has access to the account?
Using who does not make these sentences careless or unprofessional.
The important thing is clarity and consistency.
If your workplace communication uses modern American English, who else will usually be the clearest option.
Whom Else: When and Why to Use It
Although who else is the more common modern choice, whom else still has a legitimate place in English.
The form is especially useful when you intentionally want a formal or traditional tone.
Whom Else as an Object
Under traditional grammar, whom is used when the pronoun is the object of a verb.
For example:
Whom else did the manager interview?
The manager acted, while the people represented by whom else received that action.
Another example is:
Whom else did the committee invite?
The committee is the subject. The people invited are the object.
In highly formal writing, whom else can therefore be appropriate.
However, this does not mean the modern version is automatically wrong:
Who else did the committee invite?
That sentence is also standard modern English.
The difference is mainly one of register and grammatical tradition, rather than a simple correct-versus-incorrect divide.
Whom Else After a Preposition
One of the clearest places to encounter whom is after a preposition.
For example:
To whom else should I speak?
With whom else did you discuss the matter?
For whom else was the position created?
These constructions have a distinctly formal tone.
Modern English often places the preposition at the end instead:
Who else should I speak to?
Who else did you discuss the matter with?
Who else was the position created for?
Both patterns can communicate the same basic meaning, but the first pattern sounds more formal. Cambridge identifies preposition + whom constructions as especially formal.
Whom Else in Formal Writing
Whom else can be useful when the writing calls for a traditional formal style.
You may encounter it in:
- Formal correspondence
- Legal writing
- Academic prose
- Official documents
- Carefully edited formal publications
- Traditional grammar exercises
For example:
Whom else should the board consult before making its decision?
The sentence has a formal tone.
In a casual workplace message, however, most writers would probably choose:
Who else should the board consult before making its decision?
The choice should therefore reflect the audience, purpose, and tone of your writing.
The First Decision
When you are unsure, start with the simplest question:
Am I writing normal modern English, or am I deliberately using a formal traditional style?
If the answer is normal modern English, choose who else in most situations.
If the answer is formal traditional English, consider whom else when the pronoun is functioning as an object.
Compare:
Who else did you invite?
Natural modern English.
Whom else did you invite?
Formal or traditional English.
And after a preposition:
Who else should I send this to?
Natural modern English.
To whom else should I send this?
More formal English.
This distinction gives you a practical way to choose without treating modern English as if it were frozen in older grammar rules.
Why “Who Else” Usually Sounds More Natural
Language changes over time. The traditional distinction between who and whom remains visible in formal English, but everyday usage has moved strongly toward who.
That change is especially noticeable in questions.
Compare:
Who did you call?
with:
Whom did you call?
Both can be understood, but the first is far more natural for ordinary communication.
The same pattern applies to who else and whom else.
Who else did you call?
sounds natural and direct.
Whom else did you call?
sounds noticeably more formal.
This is not simply a matter of people ignoring grammar. Modern English has expanded the contexts in which who can be used. Cambridge’s current guidance explicitly lists who as possible in both subject and object positions.
That is why a modern grammar guide should avoid telling readers that every object use of who is an error.
A Practical Rule for Modern American English
If you want one rule that works for most situations, remember this:
Use “who else” as your default. Use “whom else” when a formal or traditional object form is appropriate.
This rule is especially useful in American English.
Consider these examples:
Casual conversation:
Who else is coming?
Workplace email:
Who else should I include?
Classroom discussion:
Who else knows the answer?
Formal writing:
Whom else should the committee consult?
Very formal prepositional construction:
To whom else should the documents be sent?
The goal is not to eliminate whom. The goal is to use it intentionally.
When you understand the difference between traditional grammar and modern usage, you can make the choice confidently instead of guessing.
How to Decide
Choosing between who else and whom else becomes easier when you stop treating who and whom as two completely separate ideas. Instead, look at the role the pronoun plays and the style you want.
Traditional grammar gives you a useful subject-versus-object distinction. Modern English, especially American English, gives you more flexibility.
For example:
Who else wants to come?
Here, who else is the subject of wants.
Now consider:
Who else did you invite?
Here, who else is traditionally analyzed as the object of invite. Yet modern English commonly uses who in this position.
A formal version is:
Whom else did you invite?
Both forms can work. The best choice depends on grammar, register, and context.
Step 1: Find the Main Verb
Start by identifying the main verb connected to the unknown person.
For example:
Who else called this morning?
The main verb is called. Ask yourself who performed that action.
Maria called.
Maria is the subject. Therefore, traditional grammar supports who.
Now try:
Who else did Maria call?
The main verb is call. Maria acts, while the unknown person receives it.
Traditional grammar would therefore use:
Whom else did Maria call?
However, modern English commonly uses:
Who else did Maria call?
This distinction is useful because it explains why whom still exists while who appears in so many object positions.
Step 2: Decide Whether the Pronoun Is the Subject or Object
Traditional grammar asks whether the person is doing the action or receiving the action.
Compare:
Who else helped you?
The unknown person acted as helping. That makes the pronoun the subject.
Now compare:
Whom else did you help?
You acted. The person represented by whom else received it.
The traditional distinction is clear:
- Who → subject
- Whom → object
But remember that modern English frequently uses who for both.
That means:
Who else did you help?
is normal modern English.
You should not assume that this sentence is incorrect simply because who is functioning as an object.
Step 3: Use the He/Him Test
The traditional he/him test can help you make the distinction quickly.
Replace the unknown person with he or him.
If he sounds right, traditional grammar points to who.
If him sounds right, traditional grammar points to whom.
For example:
Who else called?
Try the replacement:
He called.
That sounds correct, so who is the traditional choice.
Now try:
Whom else did you invite?
Replace whom else with him:
You invited him.
That works, so whom fits the traditional object rule.
However, there is an important modern-English warning.
The test tells you what traditional grammar recommends. It does not mean that modern speakers must use whom whenever him works.
For instance:
Who did you meet?
is extremely common.
Traditional grammar may prefer:
Whom did you meet?
So the he/him test is a helpful guide, not an absolute rule for modern English.
Step 4: Watch for Prepositions
Prepositions provide another useful clue.
Traditional formal English commonly uses whom after a preposition:
To whom else should I speak?
With whom else did you travel?
For whom else was the position intended?
But modern English often moves the preposition to the end and uses who:
Who else should I speak to?
Who else did you travel with?
Who else was the position intended for?
The first versions sound more formal. The second versions sound more conversational and natural.
Neither style is automatically better. Your audience and purpose should guide the decision.
Decision Checklist
Before choosing who else or whom else, run through this short checklist:
Ask who acts.
If the unknown person performs it, traditional grammar favors who.
Ask who receives the action.
If the unknown person receives it, traditional grammar favors whom.
Try he or him.
He points toward who. Him points toward whom.
Check for a preposition.
A formal construction such as to whom strongly favors whom.
Consider your style.
Modern American English generally favors who, while formal traditional writing may retain whom.
Don’t force formality.
Using whom simply to sound sophisticated can make an otherwise natural sentence feel stiff.
Quick Tip
If you need a fast answer for everyday American English, choose who unless the sentence clearly calls for a formal whom construction.
For example:
Who else is coming?
Who else did you contact?
Who else should I ask?
These are natural choices for ordinary communication.
If you are writing a formal document, you may choose:
Whom else did the panel interview?
To whom else should the letter be addressed?
The goal is not to make every sentence sound formal. The goal is to make your grammar appropriate for the situation.
Is “Who Else” or “Whom Else” Correct?
The short answer is both can be correct, depending on the construction and style.
However, who else is the much more useful default for modern American English.
Consider:
Who else wants to participate?
There is no real controversy here. Who else is the subject?
Now consider:
Who else did you invite?
Traditional grammar would favor whom else because the pronoun is the object. Yet modern English commonly uses who in this position.
That gives you two possible forms:
Who else did you invite?
Whom else did you invite?
The first is more natural in ordinary modern English. The second is more formal or traditional.
So saying that “whom else” is always correct because the pronoun is an object would be too rigid for modern English.
Likewise, saying that “whom else” is always wrong would also be inaccurate.
Situations Where Who Else Is Correct
Use who else when the pronoun is the subject:
Who else knows the answer?
Who else wants coffee?
Who else is joining us?
Who else called the office?
You can also use who else naturally as an object in modern English:
Who else did you meet?
Who else did they invite?
Who else should we contact?
Who else are you waiting for?
These examples reflect ordinary modern usage.
Why It Sounds Natural
Modern English tends to favor simpler structures, particularly in speech and informal writing.
The difference between:
Who else did you call?
and:
Whom else did you call?
is not primarily about whether the first sentence can communicate the grammatical relationship. It clearly can.
The difference is largely about usage and register.
The first sounds natural to most modern American English speakers. The second sounds more formal, careful, or traditional.
That is why who else is usually the safer choice when you are writing for a broad audience.
Situations Where Whom Else Is Correct
Whom else works when you intentionally follow the traditional object form.
For example:
Whom else did the attorney interview?
Whom else did the director consult?
Whom else should the committee invite?
It is particularly natural in a formal construction after a preposition:
To whom else should the request be sent?
With whom else did the researcher collaborate?
For whom else was the program designed?
These constructions are grammatical and appropriate when a formal tone is intended.
Cases Where Both Forms Are Acceptable
Some sentences can be written with either form:
Who else did you invite?
Whom else did you invite?
The first fits modern everyday English. The second follows the traditional object distinction.
Another pair is:
Who else should we contact?
Whom else should we contact?
Again, both can be found in standard English, but their tone differs.
A useful way to think about this is:
Who is the broad modern option.
Who is the narrower formal option.
That does not make who careless. It reflects how English is actually used today.
Which Form Should You Use?
For most readers, who is the default.
Use it when you are:
- Having a normal conversation
- Writing a text message
- Writing a general email
- Asking a question at work
- Writing for a broad audience
- Using everyday American English
For example:
Who else should I invite to the meeting?
That sentence is clear and professional.
Choose whom else when you specifically want a formal or traditional construction:
Whom else should the committee consult?
Or when a preposition comes directly before the pronoun:
To whom else should the application be sent?
This distinction gives you flexibility.
You do not need to memorize a complicated rule for every possible sentence. First choose the form that sounds natural for your audience. Then use whom when its formal role or construction makes it useful.
In American English
American English provides a particularly clear example of the shift from traditional grammar toward modern usage.
In ordinary conversation, who is overwhelmingly more natural than whom.
You are likely to hear:
Who else is going?
Who else did you talk to?
Who else should we ask?
You are much less likely to hear:
Whom else did you talk to?
That sentence is grammatically recognizable, but it can sound formal or even overly careful in casual conversation.
Formal writing keeps more traditional uses alive.
For example:
To whom else should the report be addressed?
This construction is still appropriate when the context calls for a formal tone.
The important lesson is that correct English includes register variation. A sentence can be grammatically acceptable while sounding unnatural for a particular situation.
Who Else in Everyday English
The expression who else appears in many common questions.
Questions About People
Who else is coming to dinner?
Who else lives in this building?
Who else knows about the plan?
Questions About Actions
Who else saw what happened?
Who else called you?
Who else helped with the project?
Questions About Decisions
Who else should we ask?
Who else can make the decision?
Who else needs to approve this?
Questions About Additional People
The word else often carries the meaning of another person or additional people.
For example:
Who is attending?
asks for the identity of an attendee.
But:
Who else is attending?
suggests that someone has already been identified or is already expected.
That small word adds useful context without changing the basic grammar of who.
Who Else in Workplace Communication
Professional communication often benefits from clear, natural language.
For example:
Who else needs a copy of the report?
Who else should be included in the meeting?
Who else has access to this information?
Who else can approve the request?
These sentences are professional without sounding unnecessarily formal.
You could replace who with whom in some object constructions:
Whom else should we include in the meeting?
But that choice may sound more formal than necessary.
In most workplace situations, clarity is more valuable than artificial formality.
If your company uses modern American English, who else is generally the natural choice?
Who Else in Classroom English
Teachers and students commonly use who else in classroom questions.
For example:
Who else knows the answer?
Who else wants to present first?
Who else has finished the assignment?
Who else can explain this example?
These questions sound natural because who else fits normal spoken English.
A formal grammar exercise might deliberately test the traditional distinction:
Whom else did the teacher ask to present?
But outside such exercises, who else did the teacher ask? is a normal modern construction.
This is an important distinction for learners. A grammar test may teach a traditional rule that everyday speakers do not always follow strictly.
Who Else in Emails
In ordinary professional emails, who else is usually the safest and clearest option?
For example:
Who else should I copy on this email?
Who else needs these documents?
Who else should receive the updated schedule?
These sentences are direct and professional.
You might use a formal whom construction in a more official message:
To whom else should I forward the documentation?
That wording is grammatical, but it also sounds significantly more formal.
Unless your context requires that level of formality, there is usually no reason to replace a clear modern construction with a stiffer one.
Common Expressions With “Who Else”
Who else appears in many useful English patterns.
Who Else Is…?
Who else is coming?
Who else is available?
Who else is responsible?
This pattern usually asks about another person or group of people who share a role or situation.
Who Else Wants…?
Who else wants some pizza?
Who else wants to join us?
This pattern is common in casual conversation.
Who Else Knows…?
Who else knows the password?
Who else knows about the meeting?
This asks about additional people with particular knowledge.
Who Else Should…?
Who else should I contact?
Who else should we invite?
This pattern is especially common in workplace and planning situations.
Who Else Did…?
Who else did you meet?
Who else did she call?
Here, who else is functioning as an object under traditional analysis, yet the construction is completely normal in modern English.
Formal vs. Everyday English: A Direct Comparison
Seeing the same idea in two styles can make the distinction easier.
| Everyday Modern English | Formal Traditional English |
| Who else did you invite? | Whom else did you invite? |
| Who else did you contact? | Whom else did you contact? |
| Who else should I ask? | Whom else should I ask? |
| Who else did you speak to? | To whom else did you speak? |
| Who else did you travel with? | With whom else did you travel? |
| Who else should I send this to? | To whom else should I send this? |
The left column is generally more natural for everyday American English.
The right column is useful when the writer deliberately wants a formal or traditional tone.
The difference is therefore not simply correct versus incorrect. It is also natural versus formal.
Why Native Speakers Usually Say “Who Else”
Native speakers grow up using the forms that are most common in ordinary communication. In modern English, who has taken over many positions that traditional grammar once reserved for whom.
This is particularly obvious in questions.
Most people naturally say:
Who did you call?
rather than:
Whom did you call?
The same pattern carries over to:
Who else did you call?
The shorter, familiar form is easy to process and sounds conversational.
That does not mean native speakers have forgotten the word whom. Instead, whom has become more restricted by register and construction.
People may still use it in phrases such as:
To whom it may concern
or:
With whom did you speak?
These expressions have a formal quality that keeps whom useful.
Modern Spoken English
In speech, who is generally preferred.
You are much more likely to hear:
Who else did you see?
than:
Whom else did you see?
The first version feels ordinary and relaxed.
The second may sound formal, literary, or deliberately careful.
This difference matters because grammar is not only about whether a sentence can be analyzed according to a rule. Natural usage also matters.
If you are talking with a friend, asking a coworker a question, or participating in a classroom discussion, you will almost always sound more comfortable.
American English vs. British English
Both American and British English recognize who and whom, but everyday usage in both varieties has moved toward greater use of who.
The important difference is not that Americans use who and British speakers always use whom. That would be an oversimplification.
Instead, both varieties show a broader modern trend:
Whom is more strongly associated with formal writing and careful traditional usage.
For American English readers, this means who else is usually the most natural default.
A formal British or American document may still use whom, especially after a preposition.
For example:
To whom else should the letter be addressed?
That construction works in formal English regardless of whether the writer follows American or British conventions.
Why Is “Whom” Becoming Less Common?
Several forces have contributed to the decline of whom in everyday English.
First, English grammar has become less dependent on visible case endings. Many older distinctions have disappeared over time.
Second, who is easier and more familiar in ordinary conversation.
Third, speakers often avoid constructions that feel formal when a simpler alternative communicates the same meaning.
Compare:
Who did you invite?
with:
Whom did you invite?
The first is shorter and more common.
The same preference appears in:
Who else did you invite?
English speakers often choose the form that feels natural within the flow of conversation.
This does not mean that whom is disappearing completely. It remains established in formal expressions and carefully edited writing.
Should You Stop Using “Whom”?
No. You do not need to stop using whom.
Instead, learn where it fits naturally.
Use whom when you want a formal traditional style or when it follows a preposition in a formal construction.
For example:
To whom else should I address the letter?
That is a perfectly valid sentence.
But you do not need to force whom into ordinary communication:
Who else should I ask?
This sentence is clear, natural, and standard modern English.
The goal is control, not elimination.
A strong English speaker should be comfortable with both forms and understand the difference in tone.
A Better Way to Think About
Instead of memorizing a rigid rule, think of who and whom as forms that operate on a spectrum of modern usage.
At one end, you have everyday English:
Who else is coming?
Who else did you invite?
At the more formal end, you have:
Whom else did you invite?
To whom else should the documents be sent?
The first set is usually more natural for modern American readers.
The second set is useful when traditional grammar or formal style matters.
This approach is more practical than telling yourself that one form is always right and the other is always wrong.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Who Else | Whom Else |
| Modern everyday use | Very common | Uncommon |
| Subject use | Standard | Not standard |
| Modern object use | Common | Formal/traditional |
| Formal object use | Possible | Traditional choice |
| After a preposition | Common when the preposition is stranded | Preferred in formal preposition-first constructions |
| Casual conversation | Natural | Often sounds formal |
| Professional communication | Usually natural | Appropriate when deliberately formal |
| Academic/formal writing | Common | Useful in traditional constructions |
The most important takeaway is simple:
Who is the modern default. Whom is the formal or traditional alternative.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
Understanding the difference helps you avoid several common errors.
Mistake: Using Whom to Sound More Formal
Some writers believe that whom automatically makes a sentence more educated.
It does not.
For example:
Whom else wants to join us?
This sounds formal, but it is grammatically wrong under the traditional distinction because the pronoun is the subject of wants.
The natural version is:
Who else wants to join us?
Formality cannot replace grammatical function.
Mistake: Assuming Who Is Always the Subject
This is one of the biggest oversimplifications in traditional grammar lessons.
Consider:
Who else did you invite?
Traditional grammar identifies who else as the object.
Modern English still commonly uses who here.
So do not assume that every object position requires whom in contemporary American English.
Mistake: Forgetting the He/Him Test
If you are following traditional grammar, the he/him test remains useful.
Who else called?
→ He called.
Whom else did you call?
→ You called him.
Just remember that modern English may still use who in the second pattern.
Mistake: Assuming Every Preposition Requires Whom
A preposition can help identify a formal whom construction, but modern English often leaves the preposition at the end.
Compare:
To whom else did you speak?
with:
Who else did you speak to?
The first is formal.
The second is natural modern English.
So a sentence-ending preposition does not make the sentence grammatically poor.
Mistake: Overcorrecting Your Writing
Trying too hard to follow old-fashioned rules can make your writing sound unnatural.
For example:
To whom else should I send this message?
is perfectly suitable for a formal letter.
But in a normal workplace message, this may be more natural:
Who else should I send this message to?
Choose the form that fits your purpose instead of correcting modern English simply for the sake of formality.
How to Avoid These Mistakes
A simple three-part approach works well.
First, identify the construction.
Ask whether the unknown person is the subject, object, or object of a preposition.
Second, consider modern usage.
Remember that who commonly replaces whom in everyday English, including many object positions.
Third, check your tone.
Use whom when a formal or traditional style genuinely suits the context.
For example:
Who else did you contact?
is a strong general-purpose sentence.
If you are writing a formal legal or official document, you may prefer:
Whom else did you contact?
And with a formal preposition:
To whom else did you speak?
This approach lets grammar serve your writing rather than making your writing serve an unnecessarily rigid grammar rule.
Side-by-Side Examples
The easiest way to understand who else and whom else is to see them in similar sentences. The meaning often stays almost the same, while the tone changes.
Consider these examples:
Who else did you invite?
Whom else did you invite?
Both ask about another person who was invited. The first sounds natural in modern American English. The second follows the traditional object form and sounds more formal.
Now look at a sentence with a preposition:
Who else did you speak to?
To whom else did you speak?
Again, both communicate the same basic idea. The second version places whom directly after the preposition and therefore has a more formal tone.
Everyday Questions
Who else is coming?
This is a straightforward question about another person who will attend.
Who else wants to order?
Here, who else is the subject of wants.
Who else did you see at the store?
Modern English naturally uses who even though traditional grammar identifies it as an object.
Who else should we invite?
This is common in planning conversations.
Formal Questions
Whom else did the committee interview?
The committee is the subject, while the person interviewed is the object.
Whom else did the director contact?
This follows the traditional object form.
To whom else should the report be sent?
The pronoun follows the preposition to, creating a formal construction.
With whom else did the researcher collaborate?
This is grammatical and formal, especially in academic or official prose.
Examples of “Who Else” in Everyday English
Who else is extremely flexible. You can use it in questions about people, decisions, actions, responsibilities, and plans.
Questions About Attendance
Who else is coming to the meeting?
Who else will be at the party?
Who else is joining the class?
Who else plans to attend?
These questions ask for additional people who will participate in an event or activity.
Questions About Knowledge
Who else knows the answer?
Who else knows about the problem?
Who else has this information?
Who else understands the instructions?
In these examples, who else refers to additional people who have knowledge or understanding.
Questions About Actions
Who else called you?
Who else helped with the project?
Who else saw the accident?
Who else reported the problem?
Here, who else identifies another person who acted.
Questions About Decisions
Who else should we ask?
Who else should we invite?
Who else can approve this request?
Who else needs to sign the form?
These patterns are particularly common in workplace and administrative communication.
Who Else in Everyday Conversations
In casual speech, who else is usually the natural choice?
Imagine a group of friends planning dinner.
“Alex is coming. Who else is joining us?”
Or imagine someone has just called you:
“I heard from Maria. Who else contacted you?”
You could use whom in some of these object constructions, but it would often sound unnecessarily formal.
For example:
Whom else did you hear from?
This is grammatically traditional, but:
Who else did you hear from?
sounds much more natural in ordinary conversation.
The same principle applies when asking about recommendations, invitations, responsibilities, or plans.
Who Else in the Workplace
Workplace English should be professional, but professional does not mean unnecessarily formal.
These sentences are natural:
Who else should be included in the meeting?
Who else needs access to the file?
Who else should receive the report?
Who else can approve the request?
Who else should I contact about this issue?
Using who in these sentences does not make the writing unprofessional.
In fact, forcing whom into every object position can make workplace communication feel stiff.
Compare:
Who else should I contact about this issue?
with:
Whom else should I contact about this issue?
The second is grammatically traditional, but the first is generally more natural for modern American business communication.
Who Else in the Classroom
Teachers and students frequently use who else when asking for additional participants or answers.
For example:
Who else knows the answer?
Who else wants to read the next paragraph?
Who else has completed the assignment?
Who else can explain this idea?
These questions are natural because classroom conversation normally follows everyday spoken English.
A formal grammar exercise might use:
Whom else did the teacher ask to present?
But that does not mean students should use whom in every classroom conversation.
The distinction between grammar rules and actual usage is important here.
Who Else in Email Communication
For most emails, who else is clear and professional.
Consider:
Who else should I copy on this email?
Who else needs the updated document?
Who else should receive the invitation?
Who else can answer this question?
These sentences work well in ordinary business communication.
If the email is extremely formal, a traditional whom construction may be appropriate:
To whom else should I forward the correspondence?
But that style should be intentional.
A professional email does not become better merely because it contains whom.
Common Expressions With “Who Else”
Certain patterns appear again and again in natural English.
“Who Else Is…?”
This structure asks about another person who has a particular status or is participating in an activity.
Who else is available?
Who else is interested?
Who else is attending?
Who else is responsible for this project?
“Who Else Wants…?”
This structure commonly appears when offering something or inviting participation.
Who else wants coffee?
Who else wants to join us?
Who else wants a copy?
“Who Else Knows…?”
This asks about other people who have information.
Who else knows the password?
Who else knows what happened?
Who else knows about the change?
“Who Else Should…?”
This pattern is useful when making plans or asking for advice.
Who else should we invite?
Who else should I contact?
Who else should review this document?
“Who Else Did…?”
This pattern often places who else in an object position.
Who else did you call?
Who else did she invite?
Who else did they interview?
Traditional grammar may recommend whom in these examples, but modern English commonly uses who.
Examples of “Whom Else” in Formal English
Although whom else is less common in everyday speech, it remains useful in formal contexts.
After Prepositions
The most noticeable formal construction is preposition + whom else.
For example:
To whom else should I address the letter?
With whom else did the attorney consult?
For whom else was the position created?
By whom else could the decision have been made?
These constructions are grammatically traditional and have a formal tone.
Formal vs. Everyday English
Compare these pairs:
Who else did you speak to?
To whom else did you speak?
The first sounds conversational.
The second sounds formal.
Another pair:
Who else did she work with?
With whom else did she work?
Again, the meaning is essentially the same, but the register changes.
This is why learning whom is still worthwhile. You may encounter it in formal documents even if you rarely use it in casual conversation.
Business and Legal Writing
Formal professional contexts sometimes preserve traditional whom constructions.
For example:
To whom else should the notice be delivered?
Whom else did the company authorize to act on its behalf?
With whom else did the parties communicate?
Legal writing can be particularly formal because documents may follow established conventions and carefully edited structures.
However, there is no universal rule requiring every business document to use whom.
Modern professional writing often favors plain, direct language.
If the intended audience is broad, a sentence such as:
Who else should we contact?
is usually easier to read than:
Whom else should we contact?
The best formal writing is not formal for its own sake. It should be clear, precise, and appropriate to the context.
Academic Writing
Academic writing may use whom, particularly when the author deliberately follows traditional formal grammar.
For example:
Whom else did the researchers interview?
With whom else did the participants communicate?
To whom else was the questionnaire distributed?
These sentences are grammatically formal.
Still, academic writing is not automatically required to use whom.
A modern academic writer might write:
Who else did the researchers interview?
The sentence remains clear and standard.
Therefore, academic style guides and institutional preferences can matter, but whom should not be inserted merely to make prose appear scholarly.
Traditional Grammar Examples
Traditional grammar makes a straightforward distinction between subject and object pronouns.
Consider:
Who else called the manager?
The person represented by who else acts.
Traditional grammar therefore uses who.
Now consider:
Whom else did the manager call?
The manager acts, while the person represented by whom else receives it.
Traditional grammar therefore uses whom.
The distinction is easy to understand when you rearrange the sentence:
The manager called him.
The replacement him supports whom under the traditional rule.
But modern English allows:
Who else did the manager call?
So there are two layers to understand:
Traditional grammar: subject who, object whom.
Modern usage: who is commonly used in both roles.
Knowing both helps you understand why you may encounter different versions in edited writing, conversations, and grammar exercises.
Who Else or Whom Else After Prepositions?
Prepositions create some of the clearest differences between formal and conversational English.
Formal Construction
To whom else should I speak?
Modern Construction
Who else should I speak to?
Both sentences are understandable and standard in their appropriate registers.
The formal version places whom immediately after the preposition.
The modern version leaves the preposition at the end.
This is often called preposition stranding, and it is a normal feature of English.
You can see the same pattern with other prepositions:
With whom else did you travel?
Who else did you travel with?
And:
For whom else was the gift intended?
Who else was the gift intended for?
The first versions are more formal. The second versions are more natural in everyday English.
The He/Him Test in Real Sentences
The he/him test remains one of the easiest ways to understand the traditional distinction.
Example: Subject
Who else arrived early?
Replace the unknown person:
He arrived early.
Because he works, traditional grammar points toward who.
Example: Object
Whom else did you invite?
Replace the unknown person:
You invited him.
Because him works, traditional grammar points toward whom.
Example: Modern Usage
Now consider:
Who else did you invite?
The traditional test still points toward whom, but modern English commonly uses who.
That is why the test should be viewed as a way to understand the traditional distinction, not as proof that every modern object use of who is wrong.
The They/Them Test
The same idea can work with plural replacements.
Use they for a traditional subject position.
Use them for a traditional object position.
For example:
Who else wants to join?
Replace the unknown people:
They want to join.
That points toward who.
Now:
Whom else did you invite?
Replace the unknown people:
You invited them.
That points toward whom under traditional grammar.
Again, modern English often uses who in the second type of sentence:
Who else did you invite?
So the they/them test is useful for understanding traditional grammar, but modern usage needs to be considered too.
The Quick Replacement Method
If the he/him or they/them test feels awkward, replace the pronoun with a person’s name.
Take:
Who else called you?
Imagine the answer is James.
James called you.
James acts, so the unknown person is the subject.
Now consider:
Whom else did you call?
Imagine the answer is James.
You called James.
James receives the action, so the unknown person is the object.
This method can make the grammar easier to visualize because you are focusing on the relationship between the person and the verb rather than memorizing labels.
Quick Memory Checklist
When deciding between who else and whom else, remember these points:
Who else is the normal modern choice in most situations.
Who else can be the subject:
Who else is coming?
Who else can also be an object in modern English:
Who else did you invite?
Whom else is the traditional object form:
Whom else did you invite?
To whom else is a formal preposition + object construction:
To whom else should I speak?
Who else should I speak to? is the natural modern alternative.
This checklist captures the difference without forcing modern English into an overly rigid rule.
A Note About “Who Else” and “Whom Else” in Questions
The word order can sometimes make the grammar look more complicated than it really is.
Consider:
Who else is coming?
The unknown person is the subject.
Now:
Who else did Sarah invite?
Sarah is the subject. The unknown person is the object.
Traditional grammar would therefore prefer:
Whom else did Sarah invite?
But modern English commonly uses:
Who else did Sarah invite?
This pattern is worth remembering because it appears constantly in real communication.
The difference between who else and whom else is therefore not simply about sentence position. It involves grammatical function, modern usage, and formality.
A Useful Style Principle
When you have two grammatically acceptable options, choose the one that fits your audience.
For a friendly conversation:
Who else is coming?
For a normal business email:
Who else should I contact?
For a formal letter:
To whom else should I direct this correspondence?
For a traditional grammar exercise:
Whom else did the committee interview?
This approach keeps your writing natural without ignoring formal grammar.
The strongest writers do not use formal words simply because they can. They choose words that communicate the intended meaning clearly and appropriately.
Why Overusing “Whom” Can Hurt Your Writing
Many English learners are taught that whom is more correct, so they may use it whenever they want to sound polished.
That can lead to awkward sentences.
For example:
Whom else wants to attend the meeting?
The problem is not that whom is too formal. The problem is that it is being used as the subject.
The correct form under traditional grammar is:
Who else wants to attend the meeting?
Another problem occurs when a writer changes a naturally conversational sentence into an unnecessarily formal one:
Whom else should I ask?
There is nothing inherently wrong with that sentence, but:
Who else should I ask?
is more natural for most modern American contexts.
Good grammar is not about sounding as formal as possible. It is about choosing the form that fits the sentence and situation.
What Should You Remember?
If you remember only a few ideas from this guide, make them these:
Who else is the best general-purpose choice in modern American English.
Who else remains valid when you want a formal or traditional object form.
After a preposition, to whom else, with whom else, and similar constructions are especially formal.
Modern English also commonly moves the preposition to the end:
Who else did you speak to?
Do not assume that every object use of who is a grammatical mistake.
And do not use whom simply because it sounds more sophisticated.
The most useful question is not only “Which form is technically possible?” but also “Which form sounds natural and appropriate here?”
That question will guide you toward better English in real conversations, emails, academic writing, and professional communication.
Sentence Transformations
One of the best ways to master who else and whom else is to compare sentences that express the same idea.
The meaning may remain almost identical while the grammatical form or level of formality changes.
Subject to Object
Consider these two sentences:
Who else called the customer?
Who else did the customer call?
The first sentence asks about the person who acted.
The second asks about the person who received the action.
Under traditional grammar, the first uses who, while the second would traditionally use whom:
Whom else did the customer call?
Modern American English, however, commonly uses who in the second sentence.
This distinction is important because it shows why who and whom cannot be separated from the structure of the sentence.
Changing a Preposition
Compare:
Who else did you speak to?
with:
To whom else did you speak?
The first version is conversational and natural.
The second version is formal and follows the traditional construction of placing the preposition before the pronoun.
Both can communicate the same basic meaning.
Changing the Register
A sentence can also change according to the audience:
Who else should I ask?
This works naturally in everyday and professional English.
A more formal version is:
Whom else should I ask?
Neither sentence needs to be chosen simply because one sounds more sophisticated. The intended audience and context should guide the choice.
In Indirect Questions
The distinction can also appear inside an indirect question.
For example:
I wonder who else is coming.
Here, who else is the subject of is coming.
Now consider:
I wonder who else they invited.
In traditional grammar, the person invited is the object, so whom else could be used:
I wonder whom else they invited.
However, who else is very common in modern English.
This is another reason not to treat the traditional subject-object rule as an absolute rule for modern American English.
The form whom else is still useful when a formal register calls for the traditional object form.
In Embedded Clauses
An embedded question is a question placed inside another sentence.
For example:
Do you know who else applied?
The phrase who else applied contains a subject.
Now look at:
Do you know who else the manager interviewed?
The phrase who else the manager interviewed contains an object.
Traditional grammar could use:
Do you know whom else the manager interviewed?
Modern English commonly keeps who.
This pattern appears frequently in professional, academic, and everyday communication.
The important point is that who else remains completely natural even when the person functions as an object.
Who Else’s? Understanding the Possessive Form
A related expression is who else’s.
This construction asks about ownership, association, or possession.
For example:
Whose phone is ringing?
This means:
Which other person’s phone is ringing?
Another example is:
Who else’s idea was used in the project?
Here, who else’s identifies the other person whose idea was used.
You can also say:
Whose name is on the list?
Whose car is parked outside?
Whose responsibility is this?
The possessive form is whose, so the structure becomes:
who else’s + noun
This is different from the object distinction between who and whom.
Is “Whom Else’s” Correct?
In standard modern English, whom else’s is not the normal possessive construction.
Use:
Whose book is this?
rather than:
Whom else’s book is this?
The possessive form whose does not change to whom.
Who Else vs. Whoever Else
Who else and whoever else are related, but they do different jobs.
Who else commonly appears in direct questions:
Who else is coming?
It asks you to identify another person.
Whoever else generally refers to any other person who meets a condition or takes an action.
For example:
Whoever else arrives first can open the door.
This does not ask a question. It refers generally to any additional person who arrives first.
Another example:
Give the information to whoever else needs it.
Here, whoever else introduces a broader reference to another person or people who need the information.
Do not treat whoever else as a more formal version of who else. They have different grammatical functions.
Why Context Matters More Than Formality
The choice between who else and whom else depends on more than grammar.
Three factors matter:
- Grammatical function
- Modern usage
- Register
Suppose you are talking with a friend.
Who else did you invite?
That sounds completely natural.
Now imagine writing a highly formal letter:
To whom else should this document be addressed?
The formal construction may be appropriate.
But if you are writing an ordinary work email, you could simply write:
Who else should receive this document?
The sentence remains professional without sounding unnecessarily stiff.
This is a useful principle for English writing in general: correctness and naturalness work together.
Formality Does Not Mean Better Grammar
It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that whom is always superior to who.
That is not how modern English works.
Consider:
Who else should I contact?
This is grammatical and widely accepted.
Changing it to:
Whom else should I contact?
does not automatically improve it.
The second version follows the traditional object distinction, but the first reflects normal modern usage.
Similarly, who is not automatically an informal or careless word.
It can appear in:
- professional emails
- academic writing
- reports
- presentations
- official communication
- edited publications
The choice should depend on the sentence and audience rather than a simple assumption that whom is always more polished.
Who Else or Whom Else? A Practical Decision Guide
When you’re unsure, use this quick process.
Start With the Most Natural Option
In modern American English, begin with who else.
Who else is attending?
Who else did you call?
Who else should we invite?
In most everyday situations, these forms will sound natural.
Check Whether the Pronoun Is the Subject
If the person acts, who else is the traditional choice?
Who else submitted the application?
The unknown person submitted the application.
Therefore, the pronoun functions as the subject.
Check Whether It Is an Object
If the person receives the action, traditional grammar points toward whom else.
Whom else did the committee interview?
The committee performed the interview.
The person represented by whom else received the action.
But remember that modern English commonly says:
Who else did the committee interview?
Check for a Preposition
A preposition can signal a formal whom construction.
To whom else should I send this?
With whom else did she work?
For whom else was the award intended?
In conversational English, you will often hear:
Who else should I send this to?
Who else did she work with?
Who else was the award intended for?
Consider Your Audience
If you’re speaking naturally or writing a normal email, who else will usually be the better choice.
If you’re writing highly formal prose and want to follow traditional grammar, whom else may be appropriate when it functions as an object.
Practice: Choose “Who Else” or “Whom Else”
Try these examples before checking the explanations.
Example One
_____ else is coming to dinner?
Answer: Who else
The pronoun is the subject of is coming.
Example Two
_____ else did you invite?
Answer: Who else in normal modern American English.
Traditional grammar would allow whom else because the pronoun is the object of invite.
Example Three
To _____ else should I send the letter?
Answer: Whom else
The pronoun follows the preposition to in a formal construction.
Example Four
_____ else wants to volunteer?
Answer: Who else
The unknown person is the subject of wants.
Example Five
_____ else did the manager contact?
Answer: Who else in ordinary modern usage.
Whom else is also possible in formal traditional grammar.
Example Six
With _____ else did the researcher collaborate?
Answer: Whom else
The formal construction places the preposition before the object pronoun.
Example Seven
_____ else should we invite to the event?
Answer: Who else is the natural modern choice.
Whom else is possible if a deliberately formal traditional style is desired.
Example Eight
Whose jacket is on the chair?
Answer: Who else’s
This is a possessive construction. The form whom else’s is not standard.
A Simple Comparison Table
| Situation | Natural Modern English | Traditional/Formal English |
| Subject | Who else is coming? | Who else is coming? |
| Object | Who else did you invite? | Whom else did you invite? |
| After to | Who else should I speak to? | To whom else should I speak? |
| After with | Who else did you work with? | With whom else did you work? |
| Workplace | Who else should I contact? | Whom else should I contact? |
| Possessive | Who else’s idea? | Whose idea? |
This table highlights the central point: who else is much more flexible in modern English, while whom else remains useful in traditional and formal constructions.
Common Sentence Patterns to Remember
Rather than memorizing dozens of isolated rules, learn a few useful patterns.
Pattern: Who Else + Verb
Who else knows?
Who else came?
Who else wants to help?
Who else needs assistance?
This pattern normally uses who else because the pronoun functions as the subject.
Pattern: Who Else + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb
Who else did you call?
Who else did she invite?
Who else have they contacted?
Who else should we ask?
Modern English commonly uses who else here.
Traditional formal grammar may prefer whom else when the pronoun is an object.
Pattern: Preposition + Whom Else
To whom else…
With whom else…
For whom else…
By whom else…
These patterns have a distinctly formal tone.
What “Who Else” Really Means
The word else is small, but it carries an important meaning.
It generally means another person, thing, or possibility in addition to one already mentioned or considered.
For example:
Who else is coming?
This assumes that at least one person is already known or expected.
If Sarah is already coming, the question asks about additional people.
Likewise:
Who else did you tell?
This implies that someone has already been told, and you want to know about other people.
So who else does not simply mean who. It adds the idea of another person or an additional person.
The same meaning applies in whom else:
Whom else did the committee contact?
The word else still means another or additional person.
It does not change whether the pronoun is traditionally a subject or object.
Does “Else” Affect the Choice Between Who and Whom?
No.
The word else does not decide whether you need who or whom.
Compare:
Who is coming?
Who else is coming?
Adding else does not change the subject role.
Likewise:
Whom did you invite?
Whom else did you invite?
The traditional object relationship remains the same.
So when deciding between who else and whom else, focus on the role of who/whom, not on the word else.
This makes the rule easier to apply.
The Main Difference
The central distinction can now be stated clearly.
Who else is the normal, flexible choice in modern American English. It works when the pronoun is the subject and is also widely used when it is an object.
Whom else is the traditional object form. It is most useful when you deliberately want a formal or traditional style, especially after a preposition.
For example:
Who else did you invite?
is natural modern English.
Whom else did you invite?
is traditional and formal.
And:
To whom else should I speak?
is especially formal.
This does not make one version universally right and the other universally wrong. Context determines the best choice..
The Final Answer
For most modern American English situations, who else is the best default.
Use it when asking about another person:
Who else is coming?
Who else did you invite?
Who else should I contact?
Who else knows about the meeting?
Use whom else when you specifically want the traditional object form, especially in formal writing:
Whom else did you invite?
Whom else did the committee interview?
And when a formal sentence places a preposition before the pronoun:
To whom else should I speak?
With whom else did you meet?
The most important lesson is that whom is not automatically more correct. Modern English has expanded the use of who, especially in speech and ordinary writing. Cambridge likewise notes that who can function as an object, while whom is mainly associated with formal styles when used as an object.
If you need a safe everyday choice, choose who. If the context calls for traditional formal grammar, whom else remains a valid option.
Understanding both forms lets you write naturally without losing control of formal grammar.
Conclusion
Choosing between who else and whom else becomes much easier once you understand modern English usage. In most everyday American English, who else is the natural and flexible choice. You can use it as a subject, and modern speakers commonly use it as an object too. Whom else remains correct when you want the traditional object form, especially in formal writing or after a preposition, such as “To whom else should I speak?”
The key is not to use whom simply because it sounds more formal. Instead, consider the sentence, your audience, and the tone you want. For casual conversations, emails, workplace communication, and most modern writing, who else will usually sound clear and natural. When traditional grammar or a highly formal style matters, who else can still be the right choice.
FAQs
Is “who else” grammatically correct?
Yes, who else is grammatically correct and is the normal choice in modern American English. It can function as a subject, as in “Who else is coming?” Modern English also commonly uses who as an object, as in “Who else did you invite?” This usage is widely accepted in everyday speech and contemporary writing.
Is “whom else” grammatically correct?
Yes, whom else can be grammatically correct when whom functions as an object. For example, “Whom else did you invite?” follows the traditional subject-object distinction. The expression is more formal than “who else” and is less common in everyday American English. It remains useful in formal, traditional, or carefully edited writing.
Should I use “who else” or “whom else”?
For most modern American English situations, who else is the best default. It sounds natural in conversation, emails, workplace writing, and ordinary questions. Choose whom else when you intentionally want a formal or traditional style, particularly when the pronoun is an object. Context and audience should guide your choice.
Is “who else did you invite?” correct?
Yes, “Who else did you invite?” is completely natural in modern English. Traditional grammar would use “Whom else did you invite?” because the pronoun functions as the object of invite. However, modern English commonly uses who in object positions, making the first version the more natural choice for most speakers.
Is “whom else did you invite?” correct?
Yes, “Whom else did you invite?” is grammatically correct under traditional English grammar. The person represented by whom receives the action of inviting, making it an object. The sentence sounds formal, though. In everyday American English, “Who else did you invite?” is generally more natural and widely used.
Does “else” change whether I use who or whom?
No. Else does not determine whether you use who or whom. It simply adds the meaning of another or additional person. For example, “Who else is coming?” asks about another person. In “Whom else did you contact?” the traditional object form remains whom. Focus on the grammatical role of the pronoun.
Can “who else” be used as an object?
Yes. Modern English commonly uses who as an object, especially in speech and informal or neutral writing. For example, “Who else did you call?” uses who else as the object of call. Traditional grammar would prefer “Whom else did you call?” but the modern version is widely accepted and sounds more natural.
Should I use “whom else” after a preposition?
In formal traditional grammar, whom else is appropriate after a preposition. For example, “To whom else should I speak?” is formal and grammatically traditional. Modern English often moves the preposition to the end and uses who: “Who else should I speak to?” Both forms can be correct, but their levels of formality differ.
Is “who else” appropriate in professional writing?
Yes, who else is appropriate in professional writing. For example, “Who else should receive the report?” sounds clear and professional. Using who does not make business writing incorrect or careless. Whom else may be suitable in highly formal contexts, but you should not use it simply to make an ordinary workplace message sound more sophisticated.
What is the easiest way to remember who else vs. whom else?
Remember that who else is the best general choice in modern English. Traditional grammar uses who for subjects and whom for objects. The he/him test can help: if he fits, traditional grammar points to who; if him fits, it points to whom. However, modern English often uses who for both roles.