Grammar 101 - When to Use Who Or Whom

by KJ Hutchings

Knowing how to correctly use "who" and "whom" may seem a little out-dated and persnickety, reminiscent of grammar lessons by strict English teachers, but the correct usage remains important when writing in a formal manner. Awareness of the distinction is essential in this respect otherwise you could risk sounding rather pompous, not to mention grammatically confused. So, what is the distinction between "who" and "whom" and how do we use them?

Both words are pronouns but the crucial distinction is that "who" is used as the subject in a sentence, whereas "whom" is the object. Here's an example:

Who paid for the newspaper? Who photocopied the report? Who likes ice-cream?

Here, "who" is the subject in each of the sentences. Now we'll see how "whom" is used when we need to refer to the object of a verb:

To whom does this bag belong? To whom it may concern. Whom do I love the most?

Okay, so we know about subjects and objects, but it can still be tricky to decipher the usage. One way to do this is to ask yourself if the answer to the question is "he" or "him". If you can answer with "he", you need to use "who" and if you can answer with "him", you need to use "whom". This is a straightforward way of remembering how to use "who" or "whom" correctly. Let's see some more examples:

Question: To (who or whom) did the award go?

Answer: It went to him.

Therefore, the correct pronoun for the question is "whom" - to whom did the award go?

Question: (Who or whom) went to the beach?

Answer: He went to the beach.

So, the correct pronoun here is "who" - who went to the beach?

Finally, here is a handy mnemonic to help you remember the distinction between an object and a subject. In the phrase "I love you", the "you" is the object of your love and the object of the sentence. The "I" is the subject. Therefore, it is correct to say "Whom do I love?" because the answer is "you" (whom), the object.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KJ Hutchings is the founder of KJ Language Services, offering editing, writing and proofreading services and advice on how you can make your English language documents the very best they can be. For more information, visit http://www.kjlanguageservices.com/

Use Metaphors and Similes to Find Nonfiction Writing Ideas

by Katherine Ploeger

Two writing methods useful to spice up your writing and make it more fun is to use a metaphor or simile to illustrate a point in your writing.

METAPHOR OR SIMILE DEFINED

Both a metaphor and a simile are statements of comparison between two different items that share one aspect or trait in common. Unlike analogies that use five or six points of comparison, a metaphor or simile uses only one and lets the reader extend the thought on their own.

A metaphor uses the wording, "X is Y." For example, "Life is a banquet." The reader thinks about a banquet, picturing all the food, people, fun, and activities and then relates those images back to life, with the reader seeing the similarities. The point(s) of comparison are implied but rarely explained.

A simile uses the wording, "X is like Y" or "X is as Y," with the comparison being explicit, that is, with more of an explanation. For example, one of the famous line from Forrest Gump is "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you will get." That simile actually gives an explanation in addition to the simile itself, just in case we do not realize that a box of chocolates usually have different flavors or types contained within.

In selecting the right metaphor or simile, make sure the point you are making with that figure of speech matches exactly the tone and topic of your writing. A mismatch will either sound strange or become unintentionally funny, neither of which would be a good reaction.

These comparisons are trickier to come up with than, say, examples, but they can add spice and interesting content to your writing when you get them right.

WHEN TO USE METAPHORS AND SIMILES

Use them when you have found one that really fits the writing situation. Do not overuse them, as their use should be a little added spice. Too much and the spice becomes overwhelming.

With that said, if you are trying for humor, an excessive number of metaphors and similes could work in your favor, but again, be careful to get them right.

TWO EXAMPLES

Here is another metaphor: "Life is a bouquet of flowers, varied and beautiful."

Here is another simile: "Life is like a picnic: it is best when shared."

QUESTIONS FOR DETERMINING USE OF METAPHORS OR SIMILES

1. Do you have a point being made that could really benefit from one of these?

2. Do you have a metaphor or simile that you would like to use in the writing? Find the right place to put it, making sure it fits exactly.

3. Do you need to give credit to an author for providing the metaphor or simile or is it considered common knowledge? Do check this out and give credit where credit is due.

4. If you feel you need to put a metaphor or simile someplace in your writing but cannot find one that someone else said, then come up with one of your own. Focus on the point you want to make with the figure of speech and then think. If one does not come to mind, think about something else, and let it come to you unheeded.

Using metaphors and similes can add spice and fun to your writing, but only if done well and sparingly.

Katherine Ploeger, MA, MFA, is a writer, editor, writing coach & consultant, and publisher. She writes practical, process-oriented publications for writers of all types. She publishes at Quilliful Publications ( http://quillifulpublications.com ). Her latest book is "Write That Nonfiction Book: The Whole Process." She also writes workbooks for writers. Two recently published are "Common Writing Errors Workbook" and "Time Travel Workbook for Fiction Writers." She also offers lots of free and helpful information at her blog, Katie's Writing Notes at http://katieploeger.com.