Whose vs. who's: How to use correctly

Key takeaways:

  • Who’s is a contraction of “who is” or “who has” (e.g., "Who’s coming to the meeting?").

  • Whose is a possessive pronoun used to ask about ownership (e.g., "Whose book is this?").

Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs

The words whose and who's sound similar but have different meanings and uses. Whose is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership, while who's is a contraction of "who is" or "who has."

Who's vs. whose
Who's vs. whose

How to use who's

The word who’s is a contraction of who is or who has and is commonly used in informal writing and speech. It is often used to ask or state information about a person. Additionally, who’s can replace who has when referring to experiences or completed actions.

Examples of who’s

  • "Who’s responsible for this project?"

  • "Who’s been to Paris before?"

Can we use contractions like who's in formal writing?

Generally, contractions (like who's, you're, etc.) are avoided in formal writing. It's more professional to write out the full form, like "who is" instead of who's. However, some formal contexts (like academic papers or professional emails) may allow contractions if they fit the tone.

How to use whose

The word whose is a used to indicate ownership or belonging. It is often used in questions to ask about possession and in statements to describe relationships between people and things.

Examples of whose

  • "Whose car is parked outside?"

  • "I don’t know whose idea this was, but it’s brilliant."

Quick test

Choose the correct word (whose or who's) for each sentence:

  1. ___ responsible for organizing the event?

  1. I found a wallet. Do you know ___ it is?

  1. ___ been working on this project the longest?

  1. ___ phone keeps ringing during the meeting?

Common mistakes

Here are some frequent errors and how to avoid them:

Using who’s instead of whose:

  • Incorrect: “Who’s shoes are these?”

  • Correct: “Whose shoes are these?”

Using whose instead of who’s:

  • Incorrect: “Whose going to the game?”

  • Correct: “Who’s going to the game?”

Who's vs. Whose

Word

Role

Function

Examples

Who’s

Contraction of “who is” or “who has”

Contraction

"Who’s ready for the trip?"

Whose

Indicates possession/ownership

Possessive pronoun

"Whose backpack is on the table?"

Conclusion

In conclusion, whose and who's are often confused, but their meanings and uses are distinct. Whose is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership, while who's is a contraction of "who is" or "who has." Understanding the difference will help you use these words correctly in sentences and avoid common mistakes. Keep practicing, and soon the distinction will become second nature!

Mismatch: Understand whose vs. who's

Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between whose vs. who’s:

Match The Answer
Select an option from the left-hand side

I wonder ___ going to volunteer for the presentation.

who’s

___ idea was it to decorate the room?

Whose

___ already finished their homework?

___ the one that left the door open?

Do you know ___ jacket is lying on the chair?

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Frequently asked questions

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Is it who's or whose birthday?

Here, “whose” shows possession, meaning you are asking whose birthday it is (i.e., to whom the birthday belongs).

Whose this vs. who's this?

The correct phrase is “Who’s this?” “Who’s this?” is a contraction of “Who is this?” (asking about the identity of the person).

Whose example sentence?

Whose book is this on the table?
Another example: The teacher, whose class I enjoy, is very kind.

Whose fault vs. who's fault?

The correct phrase is “whose fault.” “Whose fault” indicates possession, asking whose responsibility or mistake it is.

Is "whose is this" correct?

No, “whose is this” is not correct.

The correct form would be “Whose [object] is this?”

In English, we do not use “whose is this” directly without the object, so it’s important to keep the structure like “Whose [object] is this?”

Can you use "whose" for a person?

Yes, you can use “whose” when referring to a person, as “whose” indicates possession and can apply to people as well as things or animals.

Can we use "whose" for an animal?

Yes, “whose” can be used for animals when referring to possession.
Example: The dog whose tail is wagging is friendly.

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