Thread: Who/Whom

Woah, woah, before you throw yourself into the war torn, bedraggled debate that is the title of the subject, I'm not asking what the correct usage is. I'd like to address whether, even when it's technically correct to use whom, it's just fine to use who. I say this because I get corrected at least once a day, and I'm fairly sure that it's among the most common of grammatical corrections.

Personally, I find myself under the impression that using a word which is unnatural in the mouths of today's people is pointless.

Don't get me wrong, I've used whom as much as the next grammar nazi, but every time that I do I pull a little internal frown.

Certainly, in dialogue, I use who in all circumstances.

Let the blood flow--I mean, let the debate begin. (Blows trumpet)

When absolute correctness is required use whom, if using colloquial speech or references then use who.

When writing I would use whom more than when talking. I only use whom in speach if I'm exaggerating the statment. for instance.

"And whom do you suppose would then?!" (This sort of thing only really happens between me and the other half when we are trying to out do one another in a 'high brow' argument)

It's just context for me. One character could use it in one setting to conform, then not in another because he doesn't want to fit in. I could have another who's not aware, and blunders through. Another character could know the usage, but hate the formal overtones.