Retrieving a post from last year, hoping it will be new to many of you. If you did read it before, feel free to ignore it this time around, unless you (like me) can always use an occasional reminder about these things. 😀
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I’m taking a moment tonight to talk about three words that I see misused fairly often, especially the third: Peek, peak, and pique. These words are not interchangeable, though in the last week, I have seen all three misused in a series I’ve been reading, and more than once, at that. Let’s take a look at them.
Though all three are pronounced exactly the same way, they are very different in meaning, to wit:
Peek is to take a quick look at something, perhaps in a sneaky manner. He peeked at the answers to his homework assignment. If what you want to say deals with the way your character is looking at something, you want PEEK.
Peak is usually used to reference the summit or highest point of something. The peak of the mountain was covered with snow. Or perhaps: The whipped cream was mounded on the top of the pie in fluffy peaks. It could also work for a summit a bit less tangible, like: The child actor’s popularity peaked when she was a mere eight years of age.
Pique is definitely the one misused most often. Pique is a state of irritation or resentment. It can also be used to indicate the rousing of curiosity. Her spiteful tone left him in a fit of pique. Or: His curiosity was piqued by the mysterious letter. So this one deals with emotions, and has nothing to do with peeking through a crack in the door, or climbing to the peak of the jungle gym.
Now, have I piqued your curiosity enough to wonder if your blinds are pulled, so no one can peek in your windows and discover you’re the annoying neighbor playing your stereo at peak volume? (Oh, even I’M groaning at that one!) But you get my drift. And I hope this helps clear up any confusion about these three words.
Signing off now. As you were, folks! 😀
DISCLAIMER:
I am not an English teacher, grammarian, or expert on all matters of this nature, but I promise I have consulted with those who are before posting anything in this series.
The Write Stuff 
I have no problem using pique, but I often have to stop when I want to use one of the others, think it out in my head, and make sure I’ve got the right spelling.
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I’m a big fan of stopping to think things through! It almost never hurts and quite frequently helps! 😀 My biggest problems are endings like ence/ance, or ent/ant. I can never remember which way it is, and am so glad I can immediately Google for a reminder.
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You and me both. Google is the bomb, LOL!
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Good explanation Marcia! This isn’t one I have issues with, but I do have my confusing few. Always nice to get some help in this department.
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This has never been one that confused me (though I have my share) but boy, have I seen it done wrong. Finally, I saw it often enough to realize it would make a good reminder post. 😀 Hopefully, this will help clarify for any that are in doubt.
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🙂
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A most worthy reblog Marsh ❤
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Thanks, Deb! I plan to get some new ones out when I can, too, but a couple of these are worth a rerun, I think, since there are quite a few new folks around who probably haven’t seen them before. At least, I hope digging one out now and then is a good idea. There aren’t too many more, so it shouldn’t become tedious. 😀
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It’s not tedious at all Marsh. Like you said, new eyes are always coming, plus, we read and take in so much info we sometimes forget some of the nuggets of the past. Sally Cronin does a great job of resurrecting older posts by sharing many blogger’s posts from the past too. Always worthy! 🙂 xx
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Sally’s From the Archives posts are what made me realize I had a few that might be useful to rerun, too. I tried to think of another name, so as to keep them separate from her wonderful series, so decided on #GoneButNotForgotten. At least for now. 😀 Glad you think it’s a good idea.
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Absolutely! 🙂 xx
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Another of those words that sometimes gets mixed up as our fingers get ahead of our brains….thanks Marcia…xx
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You’re welcome, Sally. For sure, the first two can easily be fingers typing ahead of our brains, but it seems a lot of folks are unfamiliar with the correct spelling of the last one. Hopefully, this will help clarify either way, or just serve as a reminder to double check that you haven’t typed the word on autopilot! 😀
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