Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors - Bill Bryson [115]
Stevenson, Robert Louis. (1850–1894) Scottish writer.
St.-Germain-des-Prés, Paris.
St. Helens, Mt. Volcano in Washington State, which famously erupted on May 18, 1980.
sticky.
Stieglitz, Alfred. (1864–1946) American photographer.
stiletto, pl. stilettos.
still lifes for the plural.
stilton for the cheese, but Stilton for the English village where it originated.
St. James Garlickhythe, London church.
St. James’s, not James’, for the London palace, park, and square. Diplomats likewise are posted to the Court of St. James’s.
St. Katharine’s Dock, London. Not Kather-.
St. Kitts and Nevis is the common name for the Caribbean state formally known as the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis; capital Basseterre. Residents are known as Kittians or Nevisians.
St. Maarten/St. Martin. Caribbean island divided into Dutch and French sides, respectively.
St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London.
St. Mary-le-Bow (hyphens), but St. Mary le Strand; London churches.
Stockhausen, Karlheinz. (1928–) German composer.
Stolichnaya. Brand of vodka.
stony.
Storey, David. (1933–) English novelist and playwright.
Storting. Norwegian parliament.
St. Pierre and Miquelon. French islands off east coast of Canada; formally they are a territorial collectivity.
Stradivarius. A violin or other stringed instrument made by Antonio Stradivari (c. 1645–1737).
straitjacket.
straitlaced.
Strasbourg, France.
strata, stratum. The first is sometimes used when the second is intended, as in “They dug into another strata and at last found what they were looking for.” A single level is a stratum. Strata signifies more than one.
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Commonly called “star wars” plan propounded by President Ronald Reagan to erect a shield of space weapons over the United States to stop incoming missiles.
Stratford-on-Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon. Most gazetteers and other reference sources give Stratford-upon-Avon as the correct name for the birthplace of William Shakespeare, but it is worth noting that the local authority calls itself Stratford-on-Avon District Council.
Strauss, Johann, the Younger. (1825–1899) Austrian composer known for waltzes, polkas, marches, and operettas. His father, Johann Strauss the Elder (1804–1849), brothers Eduard (1835–1916) and Josef (1827–1870), and son Johann Strauss III (1866–1939) were also composers. None of them should be confused with the next entry.
Strauss, Richard. (1864–1949) German composer of operas and other musical works.
Stravinsky, Igor. (1882–1971) Russian-born American composer.
Streep, Meryl. (1951–) American actress.
Streisand, Barbra. (1942–) American singer and actress; not Barbara.
Strindberg, August. (1849–1912) Swedish playwright and writer.
strived, strove. Either is acceptable.
Stroessner, Alfredo. (1912–2006) President of Paraguay (1954–1989).
Stroganoff. (Cap.) Strips of meat cooked in a sour-cream sauce.
strychnine.
St. Swithin’s (or Swithun’s) Day. July 15. According to legend, rain on that day will be followed by forty more days of rain.
Stuka. (Cap.) German dive bomber in World War II.
stupefy, stupefied, stupefaction. Don’t confuse the spelling with stupid.
Sturm und Drang. (Ger.) “Storm and stress.”
Stuttgart, Germany.
Stuyvesant, Peter. (1592–1672) Dutch governor of New Netherlands (1646–64), which later became New York.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Caribbean state; capital Kingstown.
stylus, pl. styluses/styli.
stymie. Thwart or immobilize.
Styrofoam is a trademark.
Styx. The river flowing around Hades.
submersible.
suborn does not mean undermine, as is sometimes thought; it is to induce someone into committing a wrongful act.
subpoena. A writ ordering a person to appear in court.
sub rosa. (Lat.) “Under the rose” in secret.
sub silentio. (Lat.) In silence.
substitute should be followed only by for. You substitute one thing for another. If you find yourself following the word with by or with or any other preposition, you should choose another verb.
subterranean.
succès d’estime. (Fr.) An