For whom are you looking for

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bigC

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"For whom are you looking?"

"Whom are you looking for?"

Which sentence is correct to say in answering telephone calls?
 

emsr2d2

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"For whom are you looking?"

"Whom are you looking for?"

Which sentence is correct to say in answering telephone calls?

On the phone, it's not possible to "look for" anyone.

"Who would you like to speak to?"

However, that isn't how you should answer the phone. We usually use something like "Good morning/afternoon/evening. [Name of company] How can I help you?"
 

5jj

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The first is incorrect, and the second is a strange mixture of the very formal and the less formal.

"For whom are you looking?" is so formal that it sounds unnatural.
"Who are you looking for?" is the most natural, though it's an unusual thing to say when answering a telephone call. "Who would you like to speak to?" is more natural.

(Ems beat me to it. I agree that How can I help you?" is what we usually say.)
 
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