James Witt Sewell

James Witt Sewell (1865–1955) was an American teacher and writer on English language and grammar. He is most often remembered for collaborating with William Malone Baskervill on An English Grammar, a book that remained well known enough to be preserved and redistributed in public-domain collections.

Although easily available biographical details are limited, the record of his published work suggests a career closely tied to education and the teaching of English. His name also appears on other school-oriented language books, pointing to a practical, classroom-focused approach rather than a literary career in the usual sense.

Today, Sewell is mainly encountered through older grammar texts that give a glimpse of how English was taught in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For listeners interested in the history of language instruction, his work offers a window into an earlier style of clear, formal explanation.