Bryson•s Dictionary for Writers and Editors

316
Sotheby’s / Spinoza, Baruch de
Sotheby’s. Auctioneers; formerly Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co., now
Sotheby’s Holdings Inc.
Sotomayor, Javier. (1967–) Cuban high jumper.
souchong. Chinese tea.
soufflé. Light, puffy dish made with egg whites.
souk. Market in Arab countries.
soupçon. A very small amount.
sou’wester. Rain hat with a broad brim at the back or a southwest
wind.
Sovereign Bancorp Inc. Pennsylvania-based bank.
Soviet Union, the, formally ceased to exist in 1991. It comprised fifteen
Union Republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Byelorussia, Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia,
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Soyinka, Wole. (1934–) Nigerian writer; awarded Nobel Prize for Literature
1986. Full name: Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka.
spate properly describes a torrent, not a flurry.
special, especial. The first means for a particular purpose, the second
to a high degree. A special meal may be especially delicious.
specie. Coins, as opposed to paper money.
species, genus. The first is a subgroup of the second. The convention
is to capitalize the genus but not the species. Thus, Homo sapiens.
The plurals are species and genera.
Spenser, Edmund. (1552–1599) English poet.
Spetsai, Greece.
spicy. Not -ey.
Spielberg, Steven. (1946–) American film director and producer.
spigot.
spiky. Not -ey.
spinnaker. Type of sail.
spinney. Small woodland.
Spinoza, Baruch de. (1632–1677) Dutch philosopher.