Acceptable common usage?

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#53713 Fri, 05 Nov 04 06:30 AM

Could you please give your opinion on the following sentence. Is it grammatically correct, i.e. is use of the word 'where' acceptable. Other words could be used instead, for example ....system in which private ...... . I just want o know is the sentence acceptable, or is it absolutely wrong. A colleague maintains that it is unacceptable with the word 'where'.

Free enterprise is an economic system where private businesses compete with each other to make a profit.

With thanks, Roy Copeland. Thailand.

Email address: roycope@asianust.ac.th

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Mister Micawber

#53766 Fri, 05 Nov 04 02:06 PM

Free enterprise is an economic system in which situation private businesses compete with each other to make a profit.

'Where' can acceptably be used here in a metaphorical sense, but I would recast to 'in which' or 'wherein'.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (23,508)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'