whens

[koster]

I'm playing online Scrabble and my opponent has just put down 'whens', which has been allowed.

Can anyone explain why this is a valid word?

It's not the case that contractions are allowed, because 'doesnt' is not permitted.

Even the Google spell checker which I have just used on this message doesn't have a problem with it.

[ace bt]

you hear the expression 'whys and wherefores' - maybe it's the same with when?

[JMR27]

"Whens" is in the Official Scrabble Words List. When is described as a noun in Chambers - the (question of) the time at which something happened or is to happen.

"Doesn't" isn't in th OSW.

Hope this is of some help.

[geo0939]

Does that mean that wheres would be allowed?

[koster]

I found it in the Merriam Webster online dictionary:

Main Entry: when
Function: noun
Date: 1616
:the time in which something is done or comes about
"troubled his head very little about the hows and whens of life" � Laurence Sterne

[JMR27]

hi geo0939 - wheres is in the OSW so would be allowed

[sarumite]

This site is useful for scrabble ... insert any word and it will advise whether or not it is acceptable in the game.

http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/wordg ames/word_wizards/wwizards.py/main