Mekita Rivas, SNR communications associate, publishes a biweekly feature called "Grammar Guru."
Every other week, the Grammar Guru will share writing tips to help make your work as polished as possible. Some of these tips may address common spelling errors, while others will examine the many nuances of the English language.
Grammar Guru Tip #29
The terms "conscience" and "conscious" may sound similar, but their meanings are completely different. Make sure you're using the correct word to accurately express yourself.
You may have something on your conscience when you feel guilty. Your conscience tells you the difference between right and wrong.
You are conscious when you're awake. You are conscious of something when you are aware of it.
Example:
The lawyer said his client had a clear conscience because he was innocent. My conscience is telling me that I should know better.
She was not conscious during the surgery. Are you conscious that what you're doing is wrong?
Need some grammar guidance? The UNL Style Guide (http://unlcms.unl.edu/ucomm/styleguide/) is a great resource for all university employees. If you have writing questions that the style guide doesn't answer, feel free to email the Grammar Guru at mrivas@unl.edu.