I had the hardest time keeping track of the spelling on this word confusion unconscionable vs unconscious.
Unconscionable is a knowing. An unconscionable person is aware of what they are doing.
An unconscious person is unaware.They may be in a coma or not aware of something they’re doing.
What it comes down to is that the first is totally aware while the second is not aware.
Exploring Later . . .
You may also want to explore “Conscience versus Conscious“.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Unconscionable | Unconscious |
|---|---|
 — |
 |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Adjective | Adjective 1; Noun 2
Plural for the noun: unconscious |
Not right or reasonable
Not restrained by conscience
Excessive
|
Adjective: Not conscious 1
Noun: The division of the mind in psychoanalytic theory containing elements of psychic makeup, such as memories or repressed desires, that are not subject to conscious perception or control but that often affect conscious thoughts and behavior |
| Examples: | |
| He was ashamed of the unconscionable conduct of his son.
Shareholders have had to wait an unconscionable time for the facts to be established. Fox News had committed an unconscionable act. It was an unconscionable price. Santos, lol, is an unconscionable liar. |
Adjective: The boy was beaten unconscious. He would wipe back his hair in an unconscious gesture of annoyance. “What is it?” he asked again, unconscious of the repetition. There was an unconscious resentment in Sam. Noun: “It is blood, toil and tears for this is what they have experienced either through a firsthand exposure to punitive violence by the Indian forces in Kashmir or through harrowing ancestral tales of such state sponsored atrocities, that they have grown up listening to, and which now defines their collective unconscious” (Nagra). He probed the secrets of her unconscious mind. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: conscious Adverb: unconscionably Noun: unconscionability |
Adjective: preconscious, subconscious Adverb: preconsciously, unconsciously Noun: preconscious, subconscious, unconsciousness |
| History of the Word: | |
| Mid-16th century from the prefix un- meaning not + the obsolete conscionable, from conscience (interpreted as a plural) + -able. | |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Unconscionable versus Unconscious
Apple Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com: unconscious
The Free Dictionary: unconscionable, unconscious
Nagra, Marria Qibtia Sikandar. “Kashmir: A pilfered state.” The Nation. 26 Mar 2019. Web. 20 Feb 2023. <https://www.nation.com.pk/columnist/marria-qibtia-sikandar-nagra>.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Putin Must Go by Mike Finn is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via Flickr.
Revised as of 21 Apr 2024
By: Kathy Davie