Just now found a new word in someone's entry: conscientiousness. After looking it up in a dictionary
After looking it up in a dictionary and trying to say that out loud for about five hundred times I solely want to know, how they differentiate with word contiousness ?
And I know what the book says, the translation of those two. Just thought natives will have smth to say, how do you use them? DO you use them?)

Question

Just now found a new word in someone's entry: conscientiousness. After looking it up in a dictionary 
After looking it up in a dictionary and trying to say that out loud for about five hundred times I solely want to know, how they differentiate with word contiousness ? 
And I know what the book says, the translation of those two. Just thought natives will have smth to say, how do you use them? DO you use them?)

Answer

Well, one has three syllables (con-scious-ness) and the other five (con-sci-en-tious-ness).

A good speaker will use them both. Consciousness (the state of being awake or aware) is normally used in a medical context ("to regain consciousness"), or a formal business context ("Their consciousness of the fact that...").

Conscientiousness (the state of being thorough or careful) refers to a person's character.  A conscientious worker cares about the quality his/her work; good work is a result of that person's conscientiousness.  You may find "conscientious" used on a professional reference to describe the applicant's work ethic.

Answer

Good question.  I could use both.  However, I like thoroughness (instead of using conscientiousness).

Answers · 3

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