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conscience  –  conscious

[different end pronunciation: 'conscience' has (roughly) 'kon.shans' sound; 'conscious' = has (roughly) 'kon.shas' sound]

The pronunciation of these two words is very confusing, and so, we are advised to listen to the videos we see on the right of this text, paying more attention to these words being said in a normal way.

“Conscience” means ‘an inner sense/feeling (mind) that judges (tells) one’s actions according to morals and makes one feel guilty, if done a bad deed, or good, if done a good deed, etc.’,

e.g.

He has no conscience; he can even steal from a blind beggar.

“Conscious” means ‘fully awake (physical), be able to think, see with mind, be able to understand what is happening without even being told’,

e.g.

The old man fell down the stairs but was still conscious. [i.e. he could still see, talk and recognise people around him]

She was not conscious that her former husband was at the party. [i.e. she did not know or have any idea, or even guess that her former husband was also present at the party]

Common Errors:

House-wives today are more conscious about the importance of health care than those some twenty years ago.  [wrong]

House-wives today are more conscious of the importance of health care than those twenty years ago.  [right]

{‘Be + conscious + of: She was very conscious of the fact that she was being watched, i.e. she did not see anybody watching her, but had a feeling that somebody was watching her.}

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