Dark clouds and wind often precede a thunderstorm.

Proceed is to move forward or continue.

After presenting your boarding pass and ID, you may proceed to the plane.

I was so scared that I literally jumped out of my skin.

I was so cold after two hours in the snow that I literally froze to death.

Upon hearing a statement like one of these, I think, “Really? You literally jumped out of your skin?” Or, “You actually froze to death, but you’re still alive to talk about it?”

It’s common to hear figures of speech (like idioms or hyperboles) used for emphasis, just as “jumped out of my skin” is used to express extreme fright. Such expressions are not intended to be interpreted as is, which is why they are considered figurative. In contrast, when something is literal, it is real or actual. Obviously, it is impossible to jump out of one’s skin, so this expression is figurative, not literal.  The use of literally in such an expression is incorrect or, at best, unnecessary.

It could be argued that literally is used with figures of speech for the purpose of exaggeration or emphasis; that is, the person including literally is doing so purposefully to extend the hyperbole. But it is generally understood that figures of speech (as used in the examples above) are for emphasis, often involve some exaggeration, and not intended to be taken seriously. To include the word literally for further exaggeration or emphasis is, in my opinion, verbal overkill.

Rein (without the “g”) means—in the verb form—to control, lead, or direct ( or, in the noun form, something that is used to lead, control, or direct—as in a horse’s reins).

The manager was forced to rein in loquacious employees after excess talking extended the meeting past an hour.

Reign is to rule or have sovereignty over.

King Henry VIII reigned from 1509 until his death in 1547.

The historical documents were preserved for posterity.

Prosperity refers to wealth or abundance:

Saving and investing wisely will lead to prosperity.

The hikers reached the mountain’s peak in four hours.

Home values in my neighborhood reached their peak five years ago.

Pique, pronounced the same as peak, is derived from the French word piquer, which means literally “to prick.” “To pique” is to excite or arouse, and it is most often used with the words interest or curiosity:

The front page headline piqued my interest in the news story.

Often writers will mistakenly use peak when they mean pique. The confusion likely stems from an incorrect assumption that because peak and pique sound the same, they are also spelled the same. Also, peak is the more common word.

The front page headline peaked [incorrect] my interest in the news story.