Sherwin Cody

Alpheus Sherwin Cody was an American writer, educator, and entrepreneur born in 1868 and remembered for popular guides to speaking and writing English. He became widely known for teaching language in a direct, accessible way, especially through books and home-study materials aimed at everyday readers rather than specialists.

Cody built a large audience with his long-running self-improvement approach to English usage, including the well-known advertising question, Do You Make These Mistakes in English? His work pushed against stiff, overly academic language teaching and instead favored practical grammar, clearer expression, and a more natural style.

He died in 1959, leaving behind a body of work that reflects an early 20th-century belief that better communication could open doors in work and daily life. For listeners interested in classic advice on writing and speaking, his books offer a snapshot of that energetic, self-education tradition.