Let’s be honest…
conscious and conscience are sneaky little twins. They sound almost identical, they show up in the same kinds of writing, and they LOVE to mess with your fingers mid-dictation.
But don’t worry — the Steno Wizard has a trick for you ✨
🧠Conscious = Awareness of Surroundings
Think:
“I am conscious of what’s happening around me.”
Your stroke:
KORBS
Why it works:
Think of being aware of your surroundings → everything around you, no interruptions.
Clean, straightforward stroke = external awareness.
⭐ Bonus magic:
Subconscious = SKORBS
(Same idea, just living under the surface!)
❤️ Conscience = Inner Sense of Right & Wrong
Think:
“My conscience tells me what’s right.”
Your stroke:
KO*RBS
Why it works:
The asterisk is your secret weapon.
Place it right in the INNER part of the stroke.
Because your conscience lives inside you — your moral compass.
✨ Little mental image:
That asterisk = a tiny voice inside going, “You know better…”
🪄 The Wizard Trick to Remember
KORBS → Outside awareness → Conscious
KO*RBS → Inside voice → Conscience
If it’s internal, it gets the ⭐ (asterisk).
Final Spell 🧙♀️
When you hear one of these in dictation, pause for a split second and ask yourself:
“Is this about what’s happening around them… or inside them?”
That tiny check can save you from a big mistrans.
Got a tricky pair you want the Steno Wizard to tackle next? Send it my way — I’m always brewing up new tricks 🪄
