Conscience vs. Conscious (Grammar Rules)

Are you conscious? Do you have a conscience? I hope the answer to both questions is yes, and we'll dive into why below. If you answered no to either, then I'll be more than a little concerned.

(Grammar rules for writers.)

So let's look at the differences in conscience and conscious.

Conscience is the understanding of moral goodness or wrongness. It can also mean conformity to that understanding of morality and/or a regard for it.

(Empathy vs. Sympathy vs. Apathy.)

Conscious, on the other hand, means that you're aware of your surroundings. In other words, it means you perceive your surroundings. It can also mean that you do things intentionally by making "conscious decisions."

Make sense?

Correct: Her conscience wouldn't allow her to accept a gift at someone else's expense.
Incorrect: Her conscious wouldn't allow her to accept a gift at someone else's expense.

Correct: He couldn't move after the accident, but he was conscious enough to say his name.
Incorrect: He couldn't move after the accident, but he was conscience enough to say his name.

A person can be conscious but not have a conscience, and a person can have a conscience but not be conscious, though it's often preferable to have a conscious person who has a conscience.

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No matter what type of writing you do, mastering the fundamentals of grammar and mechanics is an important first step to having a successful writing career.

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