:: COMPARE ::
The short answer
Empirically near-identical at ρ = .84. The useful half of grit is the perseverance side of a personality trait psychology has measured for decades. The branding is the novel part.
Side by side
| Aspect | Grit | Conscientiousness |
|---|---|---|
| Correlation | ρ = .84 with each other | ρ = .84 |
| Age of construct | 2007 | Decades |
| Predicts performance | ρ = .18 academic | Comparable |
| Adds anything new | Perseverance half only | — |
What each one means
Everyday grit is coarse sand or small hard particles — and, figuratively, plain toughness of character. In psychology it names a specific construct, perseverance and passion for long-term goals, sold as the hidden predictor of success and shown by meta-analysis to be largely conscientiousness under a new name.
Full definition of Grit →The contrast above sets out how Conscientiousness differs from Grit on the points that actually matter.