H. W. (Henry Watson) Fowler

Henry Watson Fowler was an English schoolmaster, lexicographer, and commentator on English usage, born in 1858 and died in 1933. He is most closely associated with A Dictionary of Modern English Usage, the book that made “Fowler” almost a shorthand for advice on style and correctness.

Before becoming famous for his language writing, he taught at schools including Sedbergh. He later worked closely with his brother Francis George Fowler, and together they produced influential reference books including The King's English and the first Concise Oxford Dictionary. Those collaborations helped establish his reputation as a sharp, lively guide to written English.

What still makes Fowler stand out is the tone of his work: learned, opinionated, funny, and deeply interested in actual usage rather than empty fussiness. Even when later editors revised or debated his judgments, his voice remained central to the tradition of English style guides.