How to Use ‘Conscience’ vs. ‘Conscious’ in Writing

“Conscience” is a noun that describes an inner feeling that serves as a guide for decision-making. Think of conscience as a moral compass; a good conscience means you have a strong sense of right and wrong. A person’s conscience helps them determine a point of view for moral action. A conscience is among the mental processes in the human brain that combine emotional and rational associations to interpret situations and make choices.

Learn how to use the word “conscience” in everyday life via these example sentences:

1. 1. “After forgetting to tip the waiter, John had a guilty conscience.” “A guilty conscience” is a common phrase that means one feels remorse over a mistake made or a wrong committed. The sentence implies John typically has a good conscience but made a mistake in this incident and is coping with regret.
2. 2. “As a five-year volunteer at the rescue shelter, she has long demonstrated a good conscience.” Sound decision-making and a strong moral sense of right and wrong reflect a good conscience, something a multi-year volunteer would possess.
3. 3. “People questioned her conscience when she told her confidant’s secret to other friends.” Sharing a secret meant to be kept between two confidants may indicate a weaker conscience.

“Conscious” is an adjective that means “aware, cognisant, and alert.” If you are awake and aware of your surroundings, you are conscious. If you have been in an accident or undergo particular medical treatment, you may be unconscious. “Conscious” is an adjective that sometimes acts almost like a suffix in hyphenated words, as in “self-conscious.”

Be conscious of how you use the word “conscious” in a sentence. Consider the following examples:

1. 1. “Though he was uninterested in the class, he stayed conscious enough to take notes.” The subject is bored by the class but remains awake and alert enough to listen and jot down notes.
2. 2. “My tires are low on air, so I’ll be making a conscious effort to avoid potholes.” “A conscious effort” is a common phrase that means taking special care to follow instructions or be mindful about a particular endeavor.
3. 3. “Because of the anticipated heat, she made a conscious decision to pack extra water bottles.” Here the subject displays a conscious awareness that warmer weather is coming and that extra water bottles will prove helpful on the journey.

Conscience is an inner voice that defines one’s sense of morality, while conscious is the state of being awake and alert. One of the key differences between these commonly confused words is their parts of speech:

• “Conscience” is a noun. However, you can adapt the word “conscience” into an adjective. For example, the word “conscientious” describes someone endeavoring to do what is right, specifically when it comes to tasks and work ethic: “His conscientious work ethic made him a star pupil.”
• “Conscious” is an adjective. You adapt the word “conscious” into a noun. The word “consciousness” refers to one’s wakefulness: “After crashing his car, the victim lost consciousness.”

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