Grammatically Correct 1/3/06
A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901
Using Conscience and Conscious Correctly
by W. Scott Harkey

The words conscience and conscious are sometimes used incorrectly in formal writing because of their similarity in appearance and sound. Though they appear similar, they are indeed two different words with two different meanings. 

Conscience is a noun, and it means moral awareness and urges the individual to prefer ethical actions over immoral actions.  It is the source of good judgment

Ex. Always let your conscience be your guide. 

Conscious is an adjective.  It means environmental and personal awareness. It is the awareness of one's own surroundings, one’s personal being, and one’s feelings. One could also say it is mental alertness.

Ex. He was not conscious of his surroundings after he fell and hit his head on the cement.
Definitions
 
Conscience (n)
The set of feelings that tell you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong.
 
Conscious (adj)
Noticing or realizing something; awake and able to understand what is happening around you.
 
Definitions adapted from The Longman Dictionary of American English.
Recommended Grammar Website of the Week
by W. Scott Harkey

In addition to our website, we recommend the following site: Inspiration for Writers: Elements of the Craft—Grammar Tips at http://tritt.wirefire.com/tip15.html.  This site contains useful information for writers, such as commonly misspelled words and commonly misused words, including the common mistaken use of conscience and conscious.

Test Your Knowledge
by W. Scott Harkey

Test your understanding of the correct use of conscience and conscious by choosing the correct word in the following sentences.

1. Michel made a (conscience, conscious) choice to go to the basketball game.

2. Look to your (conscience, conscious) when you are in doubt about what to do.

3. He was (conscience, conscious) of the fact that he was being watched.

4. You must have a clear (conscience, conscious) to be a judge.

5. My (conscience, conscious) told me that this is not the place I need to be.

Answers

1. Michel made a conscious choice to go to the basketball game.

2. Look to your conscience when you are in doubt about what to do.

3. He was conscious of the fact that he was being watched.

4. You must have a clear conscience to be a judge.

5. My conscience told me that this is not the place I need to be.

 

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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