Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

We often see the word "occasion" followed by "where" or "when" as follows.

This is one occasion when it isn�t bad manners to talk with your mouth full.

Rare is the occasion where someone needs to ask Clive Doucet to broadcast his opinion

My question is whether "when" and "where" are interchangeable in this case.
If not, what is the difference?


Thank you.

[pugachevV]

They are pretty much interchangeable related adverbs, but technically, according to the Oxford English Dictionary:
when means, at which time, or in which situation
where means:
1). at, in, or to which
2). the place or situation in which.
3). in or to a place or situation in which.
4). in or to any place in which
As you can see, there is not much difference.