Whomever's next

Found online: So the Browns needed a sort of player-coach to play and mentor Johnny Manziel — or whomever the next quarterback will be.

Sigh. Whom and whomever are overused. Here, whoever would work fine. "Whoever the next quarterback will be is a phrase" — actually a nominal — and you don't use whomever. (I learned that in college; thanks, Charles Millsaps.)

Unfortunately, writers and speakers have fallen in love with whom and whomever. And I really like this writer.

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EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  TWITTER: EDITORatWORK

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• Reminders for would-be novelists

• What I do when I'm editing

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• J-school: More eyes on your stories

• J-school: Go out and learn

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BLOG ENTRIES BY TOM GILLISPIE

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• Advice for be and would-be novelists

• Links to TG's stories online

• Favorite quotes

• What I do when I'm editing

ANECDOTES BY TOM GILLISPIE

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(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)

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