Shreak or Shriek: Which is Correct?

"Shreak" is the incorrect spelling of "shriek."
"Shriek" is a verb that means to utter a loud, sharp, and piercing cry or sound. It is often associated with expressing intense emotion, such as fear, excitement, or pain. As a noun, "shriek" refers to the loud, sharp cry itself.

For example...

Shriek (verb)

❌ As the haunted house's door creaked open unexpectedly, Emily couldn't help but shreak in terror.

✅ As the haunted house's door creaked open unexpectedly, Emily couldn't help but shriek in terror.

In the sentence, the verb "shriek" serves the purpose of describing Emily's immediate and intense vocal reaction to the unexpected event—the creaking open of the haunted house's door. It conveys a sense of fear and surprise, emphasizing the sharp, loud, and piercing nature of her cry.

"Shriek" refers to a loud, sharp, and high-pitched cry or scream. It is a sound that is often associated with strong emotions such as fear, surprise, pain, or excitement. When someone shrieks, they produce a sudden and piercing vocalization that is usually quite intense and can be heard from a distance.

From the graph below, you can see that the word "shriek" was used in a greater frequency than the incorrect spelling of "shreak." "Shriek" was not used as much, starting from the 1920s to the 2000s. But since then, "shriek" has had a steep increase in usage.

Why do we misspell "shriek" as "shreak"?

Misspelling the word "shriek" as "shreak" often occurs due to its phonetic similarity and the influence of common spelling patterns in English. People may rely on the sound of the word rather than the correct spelling, especially when typing quickly. Additionally, the proximity of the letters "i" and "a" on a keyboard can lead to unintentional typographical errors. Lack of familiarity with the correct spelling and memory or cognitive factors may also contribute to the occurrence of this misspelling. Language, being dynamic, allows for variations, but recognizing and correcting such errors is crucial for accurate and effective communication.

You can use an AI proofreader to prevent any misspellings such as "shreak."

Other common misspellings of "shriek"

Below are other common misspellings of "shriek," other than "shreak."

shreek
shreik
shreke
shrik
shreec
shrieck
schriek
shreake

Example sentences of the misspelling of shriek as shreak

The correct spelling is "shriek," not "shreak."
Please note that there is a spelling error; it should be "shriek," not "shreak."
In the horror movie, the character let out a blood-curdling "shriek," but the subtitles mistakenly spelled it as "shreak."
I noticed a typo in your document; the accurate term is "shriek," not "shreak."
The child's sudden "shriek" of excitement echoed through the house, but it was mistakenly transcribed as "shreak" in the transcript.

Example sentences for "shriek"

The unexpected appearance of the spider made her shriek in terror.
A loud shriek echoed through the haunted house, sending chills down our spines.
As the roller coaster plunged down the steep track, riders couldn't help but shriek with excitement.
In the darkness of the night, a sudden shriek pierced the silence, startling everyone nearby.
The horror movie was so intense that it prompted several audience members to shriek and cover their eyes.
The little girl let out a shriek of joy when she saw her favorite cartoon character at the amusement park.
A piercing shriek from the brakes of the car signaled an impending collision.
The haunted maze was designed to make visitors shriek as they encountered unexpected scares.
With a sudden shriek, the kettle on the stove began to whistle, indicating that the water was boiling.
The eerie silence was broken by a distant shriek in the forest, leaving everyone on edge.

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