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One of my grammar books 日本語総まとめN2 文法 lists both of the grammar forms 「きっかけに」
and 「契機に」 in the same definition.

However, in the example question a choice is given between them:

> その事件（a. の契機に b. をきっかけに)、商品の検査体制が見直された。

The book lists "b" as the correct answer, yet I'm still puzzled as to why
either of them would be more appropriate than the other.

Is it the case that 「契機に」 has a much more limited/specific use compared to the
other?
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2012-07-26T20:24:12.473
6282
2012-07-26T21:35:37.603
1328
question
grammar word-choice usage
Are the grammatical forms きっかけに and 契機に interchangeable?
`〜契機に` is used when the 文末 has a good/positive meaning. Otherwise, their
meaning and usage is basically the same. My book says that it is more of a
formal and/or written expression.

Your example sentence is like "Because of that incident, the inspection method
of the merchandise was reevaluated", and seems like an overall negative
meaning. Even though reevaluation can be a good thing, the mood of the whole
sentence seems negative. Compare that to the mood of this sentence:

> 今度の病気、入院を契機に、今後は定期検診をきちんと受けようと思った。 → "(After) being hospitalized by my last
> illness, I decided that I'll be good about getting regular checkups."

Even though the sentence started out negative (hospitalization), the person
made an encouraging/positive decision at the end.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-07-26T20:46:44.597
6283
2012-07-26T20:46:44.597
78
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answer
The problem is the particle. 契機 or きっかけ both take を, not の. を契機に or をきっかけに is
fine.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-07-26T21:35:37.603
6284
2012-07-26T21:35:37.603
6282
answer