Correct use of the relative pronoun "where"

[Guest]

I couldn't find any restrictions on using "where" to introduce a modifying phrase in the Sentence Correction book. It appears from question 101 in the Orange GMAT book that is must have some:

Answer E: "is a phenomenon where ocean and atmosphere..."
Explanation: "Where cannot correctly refer to phenomenon;...."

Obviously this isn't the only reason why choice E is incorrect, but I would like to when to use and not to use "where" in a modifying phrase.


Thanks,

[AG]

Where refers to a place
When refers to a time

always

[Guest]

that makes sense. thanks!

[RonPurewal]

yeah. the rules for using 'when' and 'where' are astonishingly simple, but the reason why they can be difficult is because common spoken language is in complete contravention of the rules.

for instance, 99+% of english speakers would say something like
delirium tremens is when you shake and go crazy because of withdrawal from alcohol ... but that's wrong in written language.

instead, the proper written form, which almost no one would say out loud, would be something more like
delirium tremens is a condition in which one shakes and goes crazy because of withdrawal from alcohol

but yeah, the rule is that simple: you can't write 'where' unless you're actually referring to a place (in fact, a place that has to appear directly before the comma), and you can't write 'when' unless you're referring to a time (likewise with the comma).