grow a conscience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grow a conscience" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone showing remorse or regret for an action, or becoming more aware of how their behaviors or words impact others. For example: "We all need to take responsibility for our mistakes and grow a conscience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Will Brienne find her or has Jaime's attempt to grow a conscience come to late?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

C Third if we're just chemicals, and criminals have a chemical imbalance in their brain, then has chemical therapy been tried?Replacing them might help them grow a conscience.

University of California, Berkeley

When exactly Silicon Valley will start to grow a conscience and do the right thing is somewhat a mystery while the people are still addicted or good men and women do nothing to stop the tyranny of the few.

Forbes

Vocal consumers are forcing brands to grow a conscience.

HuffPost

Trees may even help you grow a conscience.

HuffPost

In her letter, Young said she prays "for the evil one to grow a conscience and do the right thing".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Braff's wealthy patron (Ed Woodall) suddenly grows a conscience and is tormented by guilt over those he has mistreated.

The New York Times

I would like to think it is the Royal Family growing a conscience and deciding to stop selling arms to any takers around the world".

Independent

Life is sweet for the repo men, until an accident at work means one has to get an artificial organ … Great stuff at first, but when Law grows a conscience and goes underground with the uninsured, the narrative excitement slumps.

The Guardian - Film

It took a few decades for "The Great Gatsby" to take root because it awaited another age of postwar prosperity — albeit one that was growing a conscience, a sense of self-doubt, of introspection and guilt that a noirish 1949 adaptation of "Gatsby" shows.

The New Yorker

Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais play childhood friends who make their way up the ranks as triad henchmen, but when Taslim grows a conscience and decides to protect a little girl he's been tasked to slaughter, his buddy joins the mission to track him down and kill him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "grow a conscience", ensure the context clearly indicates a positive change in moral awareness or behavior. It implies a previous lack of ethical consideration.

Common error

Avoid using "grow a conscience" to describe a sudden, out-of-character act of kindness from someone generally known for ethical behavior. The phrase best describes a gradual or significant shift in someone's moral compass.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grow a conscience" functions as a verb phrase where "grow" acts as a transitive verb, taking "a conscience" as its object. It describes the process of developing or increasing one's moral awareness and sense of right and wrong. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grow a conscience" is a grammatically sound and meaningful expression used to depict the development of moral awareness. According to Ludwig AI, it's correct and suitable for describing someone's increasing sense of ethical responsibility. It appears most frequently in News & Media contexts. While not as common as simpler phrases, it effectively conveys a significant shift in moral understanding. When using "grow a conscience", consider it suitable to express a gradual increase in a person's understanding of moral accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become more conscientious

Highlights the state of being more aware of one's actions and their impact, which is closely tied to having a conscience.

mature morally

Implies a gradual development of moral understanding over time, similar to the growth of a conscience.

acquire a moral compass

Indicates gaining a guiding sense of right and wrong, akin to developing a conscience.

gain a sense of ethics

Focuses on acquiring an understanding of ethical standards, which is related to growing a conscience.

cultivate a sense of responsibility

Emphasizes the active development of feeling responsible for one's actions, similar to nurturing a conscience.

develop moral awareness

Highlights the cognitive aspect of recognizing moral issues, differing from the broader sense of conscience.

embrace ethical principles

Highlights adopting a set of moral guidelines, which is a part of growing a conscience.

evolve ethically

Suggests a gradual and progressive development of ethical standards, much like growing a conscience.

become more ethical

Focuses on adopting ethical principles, which is a component of developing a conscience.

foster empathy

Emphasizes developing understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which is an element of growing a conscience.

FAQs

How can I use "grow a conscience" in a sentence?

You can use "grow a conscience" to describe someone becoming more aware of their actions' impact on others, or developing a sense of moral responsibility. For example: "After witnessing the devastating effects of their company's policies, the CEO began to "grow a conscience" and implemented more ethical practices."

What's a similar phrase to "grow a conscience"?

Alternatives to "grow a conscience" include phrases like "develop moral awareness", "acquire a moral compass", or "become more ethical". Each carries a slightly different nuance, but all suggest an increasing sense of right and wrong.

Is it correct to say "grew a conscience" or "grow a conscience"?

Both "grew a conscience" and "grow a conscience" are grammatically correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Grew a conscience" is used in the past tense to describe a completed action. "Grow a conscience" is used in the present tense, either to describe an ongoing process or as a general statement.

What's the difference between "having a conscience" and "growing a conscience"?

"Having a conscience" implies an existing moral compass, while "growing a conscience" indicates a development or improvement in one's moral awareness and ethical behavior. Someone might always "have a conscience", but "grow a conscience" suggests a shift towards greater moral responsibility.