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I was writing an essay, but I came across a weird sentence:

Where peace prevails, justice prevails.

In the above sentence, I am confused if the usage of "where" at the beginning of the sentence is grammatically correct or not. Should I avoid making sentences like these?

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Your sentence is irreproachable. It would mean exactly the same if the relative where clause were at the end:

  • Justice prevails where peace prevails.

except for a difference in emphasis. It's like the difference between

  • If we have peace, then we will have justice.
  • We will have justice if we have peace.

That where (like most relative pronouns in English and related languages) can also be a question-word should not concern you; no one will think you're asking

  • Where will peace prevail?
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  • Yes, but some modern grammars (like H&Ps CGEL) classify "where" as a preposition.
    – BillJ
    Apr 25, 2022 at 11:57
  • @BillJ So it would be a relative preposition here, right?
    – Araucaria - Him
    Apr 25, 2022 at 12:12
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    Yes, a preposition in a 'fused' relative construction.
    – BillJ
    Apr 25, 2022 at 12:57
  • @BillJ +1 (thought it might be useful for readers!)
    – Araucaria - Him
    Apr 25, 2022 at 14:58

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