Whose or Who's: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: Whose or who's is a frequent point of confusion, but the rule is simple. Whose is the possessive form of who, used to show ownership. In contrast, who's is just a contraction of who is or who has. Using the correct form ensures your writing remains clear and grammatically accurate for any reader.
The Short Answer
Whose is the possessive of who, as in whose book is this, while who's is the contraction of who is or who has.
People often mix these up because they sound identical when spoken aloud. This audio similarity leads writers to guess the spelling based on context clues that are not always obvious at a glance.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| whose | Possessive | You need to show that something belongs to someone. |
| who's | Contraction | You are shortening the phrase who is or who has. |
| whose | Pronoun | The word acts as a subject or object related to a person. |
| who's | Abbreviation | Used in informal writing or when typing quickly. |
Correct Example Sentences
- The student whose paper won the award will speak first.
- I know who's calling right now, but I do not know whose phone it is.
- She asked whose bag was left on the chair.
- Who's coming to the party tonight?
- That is the person whose car broke down yesterday.
- I am not sure who's responsible for the mess.
- The man whose jacket was stolen is looking for it.
- Who's ready to start the game?
- Tell me whose idea this was.
- Does anyone know who's waiting outside?
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- Who's book is on the table?
- Whose book is on the table?
- I do not know who's this phone belongs to.
- I do not know whose phone this belongs to.
- Who's the winner of the match?
- Who's the winner of the match?
- She showed me who's hat she bought.
- She showed me whose hat she bought.
- I wonder who's arrived at the station.
- I wonder who's arrived at the station?
- The dog whose tail is wagging belongs to me.
- The dog whose tail is wagging belongs to me.
A Quick Test You Can Use
To determine the correct spelling, try replacing the word with who is or who has. If the sentence still makes sense, use who's, but if the meaning changes or sounds incorrect, you must use the possessive form whose.
Related Word Pairs
- its vs it's
- Its shows possession, while it's is a contraction for it is.
- your vs you're
- Your indicates belonging, whereas you're stands for you are.
- then vs than
- Then refers to time or sequence, while than is used in comparisons.
- to vs too
- To is a preposition, while too means also or excess.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I should use an apostrophe?
You only use an apostrophe in who's because it is a contraction. Whose does not have an apostrophe because it is a possessive pronoun that indicates ownership without shortening the word.
Can I use whose as a noun?
No, whose is strictly a possessive pronoun or a relative pronoun. It cannot replace a noun like name or person, but instead connects a noun to the person who owns it.
Is there a difference in meaning between the two?
Yes, the meanings are completely different. Whose asks about ownership of an object or person, while who's asks about identity or existence using the verb to be or to have.
Do these words change in plural form?
These words do not change to a plural form. Whose remains the same regardless of whether the owner is one person or many, and who's is always a fixed contraction of two words.
