Gems of My Crown ~ Peak vs. Peek vs. Pique

What better day to post about peak vs. peek vs. pique than Valentine's Day? Relationships in books usually start off with a guy and a girl sneaking peeks at each other, and sometime before the end of the book, they're taking each other to sexual peaks they've never known. These two words have been sticking out like sore thumbs and requesting correction for quite some time, so let's get this sorted out once and for all.

Peak

The peak is the topmost point or maximum level. Peak is often used when referring to the summit of a mountain or the height of a person's career. In romance and erotica books, it's used to refer to the height of sexual arousal, a character's sexual peak. One way to remember the proper use for peak is to remember its "A," which, in capital form, has a point like a mountain.

Peek

Peek refers to a stolen glance or quick look at someone or something. This is often done in a sneaky manner. An easy way to remember the correct usage for this word is to think of the "ee" as a pair of eyes.

Pique

The term pique refers to the action of intriguing someone, sparking curiosity or interest, or causing annoyance or resentment. This word is commonly used in the phrase "pique my interest."

These words have very distinct meanings, though their pronunciations are identical. They should not be used interchangeably, and because there are three of these words, special care should be taken to ensure the correct word is chosen for use.