who’s vs. whose
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/who-s-vs-whose.htm
Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 12,732,788,586 visitors served
Search / Page tools
?
Keyboard
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • A
Language:
Share on Facebook Twitter
Get our app
Register Log in
Sign up with one click:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
Share on Facebook
Get
our app
Tools
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • A
Language:
Mobile Apps:
  • apple
  • android
For surfers:
  • Free toolbar & extensions
  • Word of the Day
  • Help
For webmasters:
  • Free content
  • Linking
  • Lookup box
Close
The Farlex Grammar Book > English Spelling and Pronunciation > Common Mistakes and Commonly Confused Words > who’s vs. whose

who’s vs. whose

What is the difference between who’s and whose?

Because who’s and whose have a similar appearance and are both pronounced /huz/, they can sometimes be confused for one another in writing. Another part of the problem is that we normally use “-’s” to form possession for nouns (as in Amy’s, the government’s, parent’s, etc.), so single-word determiners that indicate possession can be tricky to remember—this is the same issue many writers encounter with it’s and its.
Who’s is a contraction of the pronoun who and the verbs is or has, and it is used when you are asking about or describing a person’s actions or characteristics. For example:
  • “Find out who’s (who is) controlling the cameras.”
  • “I decided to ask Arnold, who’s (who is) much better with computers than me.”
  • “Who’s (who has) figured out the answer to the first problem?”
  • “Does anyone know who’s (who has) been eating my cookies?”
The possessive determiner whose is used when you are asking about or describing a person or thing’s possession of something. For example:
  • “Does anyone know whose car (possession of car) this is?”
  • “The company, whose profits (possession of profits) have fallen since 2014, announced bankruptcy earlier today.”

Spelling Tricks and Tips

Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple trick to remember the difference; instead, we have to look at the rest of the sentence to help us determine which spelling is correct.
Who’s, which is formed from the linking verb is or the auxiliary verb has, will be the correct choice if it is followed by an adjective that describes the subject or another verb that describes the subject’s actions.
Since whose is a determiner, which functions like an adjective, it will usually be followed by the noun that it is describing.
Get all volumes of The Farlex Grammar Book in paperback or eBook.
Share Tweet
who vs. whom yolk vs. yoke

Conversations

Recommended for you
A full list of prepositions (no singing required)
Read next
The 7 Major Differences between British and American Spelling
Feedback
Trending
Hold on to your hats
Flashcards & Bookmarks ?
Please log in or register to use Flashcards and Bookmarks. You can also log in with
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
My bookmarks ?
+ Add current page to bookmarks

  • Facebook Share
  • Twitter
Site: Follow:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Rss
  • Mail
Share:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
Open / Close
More from Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
Mobile Apps
  • Apple
  • Android
  • Kindle
  • Windows
  • Windows Phone
Free Tools
For surfers:
  • Free toolbar & extensions
  • Word of the Day
  • Help
For webmasters:
  • Free content
  • Linking
  • Lookup box
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy policy
  • Feedback
  • Advertise with Us
Copyright © 2003-2021 Farlex, Inc
Disclaimer

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.