whom/who: can someone please correct this sentence?

I know I can look up the rule and examples on the internet but I’m on a deadline and I have to do other stuff that you guys can’t do. Is it whom or who? Thank you!!

Approximately six months after Ms. X started, Mr. X recommended to her that she shift more organizational responsibility to the acting X, Ms. X, WHOM/WHO he noted had strong skills in this area.

PS - this is my boss’s sentence - don’t edit the rest of it please. just need to know if it’s whom or who. love you all.

The general rule is: “use who for he or she; use whom for him or her.” You are saying that Ms. X, or SHE had strong skills in the area, so I would think WHO is the right one to use.

Thank you. That is an easy way to state the rule and I will pass that on to my boss – I had “who” and she changed it to “whom” (I think she just likes whom :slight_smile: ). She is a partner and a 15- year lawyer so I questioned myself…

Yes, Annie-Xmas is right, reword the question or phrase so as to make a simple statement, and use the “he/she vs. him/her” model. In this case, it becomes “he noted [that] she had strong skills…” Who is correct.

In comparison, if the original had said “…to the acting X, Ms. X, WHOM/WHO he considered to be skillful in this area,” it would be different. Rephrased, it becomes “he considered her to be skillful…,” and whom would thus be correct.

Too bad this couldn’t be an ongoing thread. Grammar help! There are times when I can use a Grammar Brain™ to assist me.

Who is the subject of “had strong skills” and is correct. It is not the object of “he noted” – which is almost parenthetical.

– Former certified and santified English teacher