# Words one can get confused **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772 "2022-09-18T20:10:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 54
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/54 "2022-09-19T09:59:25Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > conscious, conscientious, concise People also often confuse conscious with conscience. The latter is a noun referring to one’s internal moral compass: if you hurt someone, you may find that it weighs on your conscience. The former is an adjective referring to a state of awareness of something (or everything): I am conscious. Mucus: a noun referring to a slick/gooey material secreted by various parts of an organism. Mucous: a noun specifying some kind of connection to mucus. Mucous membranes secrete mucus. A **brake** (noun) is a thing that slows or stops a vehicle. To **brake** (verb) is to slow or stop. You can **brake** using a **brake** , but you don’t have to use a **brake** to **brake** ; you can **brake** with pretty much anything. Dinghy coasting toward the dock? You can **brake** with your hand. A **break** (noun) is something you need after a few hours on the job. To **break** (verb) something is to cause it to fracture ( **break** your arm), fail ( **break** your TV), or interrupt (circuit **break** er). If you break your brake, you may not be able to brake when you need to. If an elevator’s cables break, it can still break its fall using a built-in brake. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772)._