Peek, Peak, and Pique... ...and more sound-alike words

The English language is full of words that sound alike, and mean completely different things. You can really ruin a well-written text by using the wrong word. People will remember that wrong word...and totally forget that the rest of the piece was well done.

It isn't all that hard to use the wrong word, especially when you aren't even aware that there is another word, spelled differently, that sounds exactly the same. I find that there are two sets of sound-alike words (also called homonyms or homophones) that are the most troublesome:

• peek, peak, and pique
• forego and forgo

Then, there are two sets of almost-sound-alike-words (not really, but we Americans tend to pronounce them so similarly that you would think they are actually homonyms):

• illicit and elicit
• allude and elude

Of course, there are many other homonyms and almost-sound-alikes (like patience and patients or intense and intents), but let's just stick with the sets that are listed above.

Peek, Peak, and Pique

I could very easily bore you to death with the actual definitions, and all the "dictionary abbreviations" that indicate whether it is a noun or a verb, etc., but you can pull out your trusty Webster's Dictionary and look it up for yourself. (I'll admit it...I love to Google stuff, but when it comes to words and their definitions, I prefer my real, turn-the-pages hardback dictionary that is sitting here on my desk, close at hand.)

Peek means to look quickly, often without anyone knowing it (remember it: If I can sEE it, I can pEEk at it). Peak means the very top of [anything---a mountain, your game], and you can go no higher/further (remember it: If I can lEAp off of it, then I'm at the pEAk). Pique has a couple of interesting definitions, but the most common is "to arouse an interest in" (remember it: If I could be QUite interested in it, then it might piQUe my interest). There is another use of "pique"---check your Webster's---but it is used more commonly when it means to arouse interest in.

Here they are, used in sentences:

• I took a peek at the baby while he was sleeping.
• Mt. Whitney's peak is 14,496 feet above sea level.
• The PBS documentary will pique your interest in birding.

Forego and Forgo

Once again, I'll leave it to you to review the complete definitions of these two words, which are so commonly misused.

Forego means what has gone before (remember it: If it has gone beFORE, then use FOREgo) [you most typically see the word forms foregone and foregoing]. Forgo means to do without (remember it: If you GO without it, then use forGO).

Here they are, used in sentences:

• It was a foregone conclusion that I'd like to have the Mile High Chocolate Cake as dessert as soon as I saw it on the menu.
• However, I am trying not to eat too many sweets, so I'll have to forgo the cake.

Illicit and Elicit

Check your Webster's for the formal definitions.

Illicit means not proper or unacceptable (remember it: If it might be ILLegal, then it is probably ILLicit). Elicit means to attempt to get a response (remember it: If you are trying to get someone to spEak, then try to Elicit a response).

Here they are, used in sentences:

• The two co-workers were having an illicit affair.
• The teacher was doing everything he could to elicit the correct response from his student.

Allude and Elude

Webster's will provide the formal definitions.

Allude means to mention, without really saying it (remember it: If you just tALk about it without actually saying it, then you ALlude to it). Elude means to avoid (remember it: If you Evade it, then you Elude it).

Here they are, used in sentences:

• These pictures will allude to his involvement in the situation.
• The escaped prisoner changed the color of his hair and grew a beard in order to elude the police.

There will always be words that stymie you. You'll type a word, and then look at it for 7 minutes, trying to determine if you've used the right word. Really, when all else fails, thumb through your Webster's and check the definition. Then recheck the word, in the context of the sentence. If you aren't really sure whether the word is right, then you should probably try to find another word that you are sure of to use in its place. There's nothing worse than attempting to give people the impression that you have a grand command of vocabulary---when you really don't.

I've never forgotten the lesson that my fourth grade teacher, Miss Lowe, taught me:

Use a new word three times in a single day, and that word is yours for life.

PS: The princiPAL is your PAL. A principLE is a ruLE.

Jan K., The Proofer is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. Visit Jan’s Portal (http://www.jansportal.com) for more information about Jan's free crafts, recipes, tutorials, other resource sites, and free content articles, as well as Jan’s freelance proofreading business services. Be sure to visit Mom's Break (http://www.momsbreak.com/) for free printable crafts and projects. © Copyright 2005 to present. All rights reserved.