From an article in the local newspaper:
Bahls said popular television shows like “Hardcore Pawn” and “Pawn Stars” have helped business because many people are exposed to what it is pawn shops really do, and it peaks curiosity in new segments of the population.
What’s wrong with this sentence?
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“Peaks” should be “piques”.
“peaked” =/= “piqued”
It’s “pique,” not “peak.” The subject of the subordinate clause is mixed and repetitive. He is saying that the TV shows have helped his business because people learn about pawn shops and the shows pique curiosity. Perhaps he meant that the shows reveal what pawn shops do and that revelation piques curiosity.
We have three winners; 100 points for each of your houses.
Peak, as a verb, means “to project in a peak” or “to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc.”
If you mean to say that something has excited or aroused interest, then the word you want is pique.
Phil is awarded 10 points for going above and beyond with his attempt to unravel the meaning of the subordinate clause.
and THEY pique – not and it piques
The subject is plural (popular television showS), the second half of the sentence should also have a plural subject