who did what where and when

The questions "Who did what where and when?" correspond to the classic framework known as the "Five Ws" (Who, What, When, Where, Why), a method used historically and in rhetoric to gather essential details about an event or action. These questions trace back to Aristotle’s elements of circumstance and were formalized by later philosophers and rhetoricians like Hermagoras and Cicero, serving to clarify and communicate stories or events by identifying the actor (Who), the action (What), the location (Where), and the time (When), along with the reason (Why) and method (How). This framework is widely used in various fields, including journalism, writing, and investigation, to ensure comprehensive understanding and reporting of events. The phrase itself is a tool to ensure all pertinent details of an incident or story are covered systematically.