diff --git a/doc/api/api_changes/2017-01-30-AL_is_numlike_stringlike.rst b/doc/api/api_changes/2017-01-30-AL_is_numlike_stringlike.rst
index ba062de5d71a..131003275271 100644
--- a/doc/api/api_changes/2017-01-30-AL_is_numlike_stringlike.rst
+++ b/doc/api/api_changes/2017-01-30-AL_is_numlike_stringlike.rst
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-`cbook.is_numlike` and `cbook.is_string_like` only perform an instance check
-````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
+`cbook.is_numlike` only performs an instance check, `cbook.is_string_like` is deprecated
+````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
 
-`cbook.is_numlike` and `cbook.is_string_like` now only check that
-their argument is an instance of ``(numbers.Number, np.Number)`` and
-``(six.string_types, np.str_, np.unicode_)`` respectively.  In particular, this
-means that arrays are now never num-like or string-like regardless of their
-dtype.
+`cbook.is_numlike` now only checks that its argument is an instance of
+``(numbers.Number, np.Number)``.  In particular, this means that arrays are now
+not num-like.
+
+`cbook.is_string_like` and `cbook.is_sequence_of_strings` have been
+deprecated.  Use ``isinstance(obj, six.string_types)`` and ``iterable(obj) and
+all(isinstance(o, six.string_types) for o in obj)`` instead.
diff --git a/doc/users/whats_new/scatter_no_longer_flattens.rst b/doc/users/whats_new/scatter_no_longer_flattens.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6e8ee6df967e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/users/whats_new/scatter_no_longer_flattens.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+`Collection` offsets are no longer implicitly flattened
+-------------------------------------------------------
+
+`Collection` (and thus `scatter` -- both 2D and 3D) no longer implicitly
+flattens its offsets.  As a consequence, `scatter`'s x and y arguments can no
+longer be 2+-dimensional arrays.
diff --git a/examples/misc/rc_traits.py b/examples/misc/rc_traits.py
index e5aa417f4cd3..a2b397e5d252 100644
--- a/examples/misc/rc_traits.py
+++ b/examples/misc/rc_traits.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 import os
 import re
 import traits.api as traits
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like
 from matplotlib.artist import Artist
 
 doprint = True
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ def tuple_to_rgba(ob, name, val):
 def hex_to_rgba(ob, name, val):
     rgx = re.compile('^#[0-9A-Fa-f]{6}$')
 
-    if not is_string_like(val):
+    if not isinstance(val, six.string_types):
         raise TypeError
     if rgx.match(val) is None:
         raise ValueError
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/2dcollections3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/2dcollections3d.py
index 436219ae8e93..21a7a4148749 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/2dcollections3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/2dcollections3d.py
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@
 # Fixing random state for reproducibility
 np.random.seed(19680801)
 
-x = np.random.sample(20*len(colors))
-y = np.random.sample(20*len(colors))
+x = np.random.sample(20 * len(colors))
+y = np.random.sample(20 * len(colors))
 c_list = []
 for c in colors:
-    c_list.append([c]*20)
+    c_list.extend([c] * 20)
 # By using zdir='y', the y value of these points is fixed to the zs value 0
 # and the (x,y) points are plotted on the x and z axes.
 ax.scatter(x, y, zs=0, zdir='y', c=c_list, label='points in (x,z)')
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index 700ea7412acf..5ee6fc197905 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -121,14 +121,10 @@
 # cbook must import matplotlib only within function
 # definitions, so it is safe to import from it here.
 from . import cbook
-from matplotlib.cbook import (is_string_like,
-                              mplDeprecation,
-                              dedent, get_label,
-                              sanitize_sequence)
+from matplotlib.cbook import (
+    mplDeprecation, dedent, get_label, sanitize_sequence)
 from matplotlib.compat import subprocess
-from matplotlib.rcsetup import (defaultParams,
-                                validate_backend,
-                                cycler)
+from matplotlib.rcsetup import defaultParams, validate_backend, cycler
 
 import numpy
 from six.moves.urllib.request import urlopen
@@ -1225,7 +1221,7 @@ def rc(group, **kwargs):
         'aa':  'antialiased',
         }
 
-    if is_string_like(group):
+    if isinstance(group, six.string_types):
         group = (group,)
     for g in group:
         for k, v in six.iteritems(kwargs):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/animation.py b/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
index 03bc155c63a6..244af8568230 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 import contextlib
 import tempfile
 import warnings
-from matplotlib.cbook import iterable, is_string_like, deprecated
+from matplotlib.cbook import iterable, deprecated
 from matplotlib.compat import subprocess
 from matplotlib import verbose
 from matplotlib import rcParams, rcParamsDefault, rc_context
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ class to use, such as 'ffmpeg' or 'mencoder'. If `None`,
         # to use
         if writer is None:
             writer = rcParams['animation.writer']
-        elif (not is_string_like(writer) and
+        elif (not isinstance(writer, six.string_types) and
                 any(arg is not None
                     for arg in (fps, codec, bitrate, extra_args, metadata))):
             raise RuntimeError('Passing in values for arguments '
@@ -1068,7 +1068,7 @@ class to use, such as 'ffmpeg' or 'mencoder'. If `None`,
 
         # If we have the name of a writer, instantiate an instance of the
         # registered class.
-        if is_string_like(writer):
+        if isinstance(writer, six.string_types):
             if writer in writers.avail:
                 writer = writers[writer](fps, codec, bitrate,
                                          extra_args=extra_args,
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index f3930470edec..47b4aa8766ca 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@
 from matplotlib import _preprocess_data
 
 import matplotlib.cbook as cbook
-from matplotlib.cbook import (mplDeprecation, STEP_LOOKUP_MAP,
-                              iterable, is_string_like,
-                              safe_first_element)
+from matplotlib.cbook import (
+    mplDeprecation, STEP_LOOKUP_MAP, iterable, safe_first_element)
 import matplotlib.collections as mcoll
 import matplotlib.colors as mcolors
 import matplotlib.contour as mcontour
@@ -2662,7 +2661,7 @@ def get_next_color():
             if autopct is not None:
                 xt = x + pctdistance * radius * math.cos(thetam)
                 yt = y + pctdistance * radius * math.sin(thetam)
-                if is_string_like(autopct):
+                if isinstance(autopct, six.string_types):
                     s = autopct % (100. * frac)
                 elif callable(autopct):
                     s = autopct(100. * frac)
@@ -5472,8 +5471,8 @@ def pcolor(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # makes artifacts that are often disturbing.
         if 'antialiased' in kwargs:
             kwargs['antialiaseds'] = kwargs.pop('antialiased')
-        if 'antialiaseds' not in kwargs and (is_string_like(ec) and
-                                             ec.lower() == "none"):
+        if 'antialiaseds' not in kwargs and (
+                isinstance(ec, six.string_types) and ec.lower() == "none"):
             kwargs['antialiaseds'] = False
 
         kwargs.setdefault('snap', False)
@@ -6380,7 +6379,7 @@ def hist(self, x, bins=None, range=None, normed=False, weights=None,
 
         if label is None:
             labels = [None]
-        elif is_string_like(label):
+        elif isinstance(label, six.string_types):
             labels = [label]
         else:
             labels = [six.text_type(lab) for lab in label]
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index bf44d1176cc7..0884179f3fd6 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ def _makefill(self, x, y, kw, kwargs):
 
     def _plot_args(self, tup, kwargs):
         ret = []
-        if len(tup) > 1 and is_string_like(tup[-1]):
+        if len(tup) > 1 and isinstance(tup[-1], six.string_types):
             linestyle, marker, color = _process_plot_format(tup[-1])
             tup = tup[:-1]
         elif len(tup) == 3:
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ def _plot_args(self, tup, kwargs):
     def _grab_next_args(self, *args, **kwargs):
         while args:
             this, args = args[:2], args[2:]
-            if args and is_string_like(args[0]):
+            if args and isinstance(args[0], six.string_types):
                 this += args[0],
                 args = args[1:]
             for seg in self._plot_args(this, kwargs):
@@ -1281,7 +1281,8 @@ def set_aspect(self, aspect, adjustable=None, anchor=None):
           etc.
           =====   =====================
         """
-        if cbook.is_string_like(aspect) and aspect in ('equal', 'auto'):
+        if (isinstance(aspect, six.string_types)
+                and aspect in ('equal', 'auto')):
             self._aspect = aspect
         else:
             self._aspect = float(aspect)  # raise ValueError if necessary
@@ -1556,7 +1557,7 @@ def axis(self, *v, **kwargs):
 
         emit = kwargs.get('emit', True)
 
-        if len(v) == 1 and is_string_like(v[0]):
+        if len(v) == 1 and isinstance(v[0], six.string_types):
             s = v[0].lower()
             if s == 'on':
                 self.set_axis_on()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 01b41e419f11..6f438b9619fe 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ def get_registered_canvas_class(format):
     if format not in _default_backends:
         return None
     backend_class = _default_backends[format]
-    if cbook.is_string_like(backend_class):
+    if isinstance(backend_class, six.string_types):
         backend_class = importlib.import_module(backend_class).FigureCanvas
         _default_backends[format] = backend_class
     return backend_class
@@ -2090,11 +2090,11 @@ def print_figure(self, filename, dpi=None, facecolor=None, edgecolor=None,
 
         if format is None:
             # get format from filename, or from backend's default filetype
-            if cbook.is_string_like(filename):
+            if isinstance(filename, six.string_types):
                 format = os.path.splitext(filename)[1][1:]
             if format is None or format == '':
                 format = self.get_default_filetype()
-                if cbook.is_string_like(filename):
+                if isinstance(filename, six.string_types):
                     filename = filename.rstrip('.') + '.' + format
         format = format.lower()
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
index 8f3bce4396b5..0d7cfeac5965 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 from matplotlib import verbose, rcParams, __version__
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import (RendererBase, FigureManagerBase,
                                       FigureCanvasBase)
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, maxdict, restrict_dict
+from matplotlib.cbook import maxdict, restrict_dict
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, get_font
 from matplotlib.ft2font import (LOAD_FORCE_AUTOHINT, LOAD_NO_HINTING,
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ def print_raw(self, filename_or_obj, *args, **kwargs):
         renderer = self.get_renderer()
         original_dpi = renderer.dpi
         renderer.dpi = self.figure.dpi
-        if is_string_like(filename_or_obj):
+        if isinstance(filename_or_obj, six.string_types):
             fileobj = open(filename_or_obj, 'wb')
             close = True
         else:
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ def print_png(self, filename_or_obj, *args, **kwargs):
         renderer = self.get_renderer()
         original_dpi = renderer.dpi
         renderer.dpi = self.figure.dpi
-        if is_string_like(filename_or_obj):
+        if isinstance(filename_or_obj, six.string_types):
             filename_or_obj = open(filename_or_obj, 'wb')
             close = True
         else:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
index e49eb9b1a342..7396452fa0e3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ def _fn_name(): return sys._getframe(1).f_code.co_name
     try:
         import cairo
     except ImportError:
-        raise ImportError("Cairo backend requires that cairocffi or pycairo is installed.")
+        raise ImportError("Cairo backend requires that cairocffi or pycairo "
+                          "is installed.")
     else:
         HAS_CAIRO_CFFI = False
 else:
@@ -49,9 +50,8 @@ def _fn_name(): return sys._getframe(1).f_code.co_name
 backend_version = cairo.version
 del _version_required
 
-from matplotlib.backend_bases import RendererBase, GraphicsContextBase,\
-     FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase
-from matplotlib.cbook        import is_string_like
+from matplotlib.backend_bases import (
+    RendererBase, GraphicsContextBase, FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase)
 from matplotlib.figure       import Figure
 from matplotlib.mathtext     import MathTextParser
 from matplotlib.path         import Path
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ def _save (self, fo, format, **kwargs):
                 raise RuntimeError ('cairo has not been compiled with SVG '
                                     'support enabled')
             if format == 'svgz':
-                if is_string_like(fo):
+                if isinstance(fo, six.string_types):
                     fo = gzip.GzipFile(fo, 'wb')
                 else:
                     fo = gzip.GzipFile(None, 'wb', fileobj=fo)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
index 23133503df75..36583cf44402 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def fn_name(): return sys._getframe(1).f_code.co_name
 from matplotlib._pylab_helpers import Gcf
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import RendererBase, GraphicsContextBase, \
      FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, restrict_dict, warn_deprecated
+from matplotlib.cbook import restrict_dict, warn_deprecated
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.mathtext import MathTextParser
 from matplotlib.transforms import Affine2D
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
index ab27b0e913ed..02fc2a22b762 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def fn_name(): return sys._getframe(1).f_code.co_name
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import ShowBase
 
 from matplotlib.backends.backend_gdk import RendererGDK, FigureCanvasGDK
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, is_writable_file_like
+from matplotlib.cbook import is_writable_file_like
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.widgets import SubplotTool
 from matplotlib.cbook import warn_deprecated
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ def _print_image(self, filename, format, *args, **kwargs):
 
             options['quality'] = str(options['quality'])
 
-        if is_string_like(filename):
+        if isinstance(filename, six.string_types):
             try:
                 pixbuf.save(filename, format, options=options)
             except gobject.GError as exc:
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ class DialogLineprops(object):
     linestyled = {s: i for i, s in enumerate(linestyles)}
 
     markers =  [m for m in markers.MarkerStyle.markers
-                if cbook.is_string_like(m)]
+                if isinstance(m, six.string_types)]
     markerd = {s: i for i, s in enumerate(markers)}
 
     def __init__(self, lines):
@@ -1068,7 +1068,7 @@ def error_msg_gtk(msg, parent=None):
         if parent.flags() & gtk.TOPLEVEL == 0:
             parent = None
 
-    if not is_string_like(msg):
+    if not isinstance(msg, six.string_types):
         msg = ','.join(map(str,msg))
 
     dialog = gtk.MessageDialog(
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index b42f3c5ef2d1..c4b007fdc97c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def fn_name(): return sys._getframe(1).f_code.co_name
 from matplotlib.backend_managers import ToolManager
 from matplotlib import backend_tools
 
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, is_writable_file_like
+from matplotlib.cbook import is_writable_file_like
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.widgets import SubplotTool
 
@@ -954,7 +954,7 @@ def error_msg_gtk(msg, parent=None):
         if not parent.is_toplevel():
             parent = None
 
-    if not is_string_like(msg):
+    if not isinstance(msg, six.string_types):
         msg = ','.join(map(str,msg))
 
     dialog = Gtk.MessageDialog(
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
index abe502ab8b25..e14aadcb48bd 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import (RendererBase, GraphicsContextBase,
                                       FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase)
 from matplotlib.backends.backend_mixed import MixedModeRenderer
-from matplotlib.cbook import (Bunch, is_string_like, get_realpath_and_stat,
+from matplotlib.cbook import (Bunch, get_realpath_and_stat,
                               is_writable_file_like, maxdict)
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, is_opentype_cff_font, get_font
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ def __init__(self, filename, metadata=None):
         self.passed_in_file_object = False
         self.original_file_like = None
         self.tell_base = 0
-        if is_string_like(filename):
+        if isinstance(filename, six.string_types):
             fh = open(filename, 'wb')
         elif is_writable_file_like(filename):
             try:
@@ -1564,6 +1564,9 @@ def writeXref(self):
     def writeInfoDict(self):
         """Write out the info dictionary, checking it for good form"""
 
+        def is_string_like(x):
+            return isinstance(x, six.string_types)
+
         def is_date(x):
             return isinstance(x, datetime)
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
index 51d8fa2d1f86..ac0c2d6c0ec0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 from matplotlib.text import Text
 from matplotlib.path import Path
 from matplotlib import _png, rcParams
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, is_writable_file_like
+from matplotlib.cbook import is_writable_file_like
 from matplotlib.compat import subprocess
 from matplotlib.compat.subprocess import check_output
 
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ def print_pgf(self, fname_or_fh, *args, **kwargs):
             return
 
         # figure out where the pgf is to be written to
-        if is_string_like(fname_or_fh):
+        if isinstance(fname_or_fh, six.string_types):
             with codecs.open(fname_or_fh, "w", encoding="utf-8") as fh:
                 self._print_pgf_to_fh(fh, *args, **kwargs)
         elif is_writable_file_like(fname_or_fh):
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@ def print_pdf(self, fname_or_fh, *args, **kwargs):
             return
 
         # figure out where the pdf is to be written to
-        if is_string_like(fname_or_fh):
+        if isinstance(fname_or_fh, six.string_types):
             with open(fname_or_fh, "wb") as fh:
                 self._print_pdf_to_fh(fh, *args, **kwargs)
         elif is_writable_file_like(fname_or_fh):
@@ -959,7 +959,7 @@ def print_png(self, fname_or_fh, *args, **kwargs):
             self._print_pgf_to_fh(None, *args, **kwargs)
             return
 
-        if is_string_like(fname_or_fh):
+        if isinstance(fname_or_fh, six.string_types):
             with open(fname_or_fh, "wb") as fh:
                 self._print_png_to_fh(fh, *args, **kwargs)
         elif is_writable_file_like(fname_or_fh):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
index 72d9d6f0f39f..5fc8aef8d3ed 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ def _fn_name(): return sys._getframe(1).f_code.co_name
 from tempfile import mkstemp
 from matplotlib import verbose, __version__, rcParams, checkdep_ghostscript
 from matplotlib.afm import AFM
-from matplotlib.backend_bases import RendererBase, GraphicsContextBase,\
-     FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase
+from matplotlib.backend_bases import (RendererBase, GraphicsContextBase,
+                                      FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase)
 
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, get_realpath_and_stat, \
-    is_writable_file_like, maxdict, file_requires_unicode
+from matplotlib.cbook import (get_realpath_and_stat, is_writable_file_like,
+                              maxdict, file_requires_unicode)
 from matplotlib.compat.subprocess import subprocess
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 
@@ -141,10 +141,10 @@ def _get_papertype(w, h):
         return 'a0'
 
 def _num_to_str(val):
-    if is_string_like(val): return val
+    if isinstance(val, six.string_types): return val
 
     ival = int(val)
-    if val==ival: return str(ival)
+    if val == ival: return str(ival)
 
     s = "%1.3f"%val
     s = s.rstrip("0")
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ def _print_figure(self, outfile, format, dpi=72, facecolor='w', edgecolor='w',
         """
         isEPSF = format == 'eps'
         passed_in_file_object = False
-        if is_string_like(outfile):
+        if isinstance(outfile, six.string_types):
             title = outfile
         elif is_writable_file_like(outfile):
             title = None
@@ -1220,7 +1220,7 @@ def _print_figure_tex(self, outfile, format, dpi, facecolor, edgecolor,
         the key 'Creator' is used.
         """
         isEPSF = format == 'eps'
-        if is_string_like(outfile):
+        if isinstance(outfile, six.string_types):
             title = outfile
         elif is_writable_file_like(outfile):
             title = None
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index d19c0433be1b..ef591900ebad 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 import matplotlib
 
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import FigureManagerBase
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import FigureCanvasBase
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import NavigationToolbar2
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index 9d21d099e25f..cfd6f1196a01 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 import matplotlib
 
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import FigureManagerBase
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import FigureCanvasBase
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import NavigationToolbar2
@@ -865,7 +864,7 @@ def reset(self):
 
 
 def error_msg_qt(msg, parent=None):
-    if not is_string_like(msg):
+    if not isinstance(msg, six.string_types):
         msg = ','.join(map(str, msg))
 
     QtWidgets.QMessageBox.warning(None, "Matplotlib",
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
index 4f6785b7fdc8..0d1506c68dfc 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import RendererBase, GraphicsContextBase,\
      FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase
 from matplotlib.backends.backend_mixed import MixedModeRenderer
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, is_writable_file_like, maxdict
+from matplotlib.cbook import is_writable_file_like, maxdict
 from matplotlib.colors import rgb2hex
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, FontProperties, get_font
@@ -1187,7 +1187,7 @@ class FigureCanvasSVG(FigureCanvasBase):
     fixed_dpi = 72
 
     def print_svg(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
-        if is_string_like(filename):
+        if isinstance(filename, six.string_types):
             with io.open(filename, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as svgwriter:
                 return self._print_svg(filename, svgwriter, **kwargs)
 
@@ -1222,7 +1222,7 @@ def print_svg(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
         return result
 
     def print_svgz(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
-        if is_string_like(filename):
+        if isinstance(filename, six.string_types):
             options = dict(filename=filename)
         elif is_writable_file_like(filename):
             options = dict(fileobj=filename)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
index 6e92909d536a..cd2373bf4fe8 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 import matplotlib.backends.windowing as windowing
 
 import matplotlib
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import RendererBase, GraphicsContextBase
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import NavigationToolbar2, cursors, TimerBase
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@
 
 def raise_msg_to_str(msg):
     """msg is a return arg from a raise.  Join with new lines"""
-    if not is_string_like(msg):
+    if not isinstance(msg, six.string_types):
         msg = '\n'.join(map(str, msg))
     return msg
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index b050bb5f7299..aa3f97fddcc5 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import _has_pil
 
 from matplotlib._pylab_helpers import Gcf
-from matplotlib.cbook import (is_string_like, is_writable_file_like,
-                              warn_deprecated)
+from matplotlib.cbook import is_writable_file_like, warn_deprecated
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.path import Path
 from matplotlib.transforms import Affine2D
@@ -115,7 +114,7 @@ def error_msg_wx(msg, parent=None):
 
 def raise_msg_to_str(msg):
     """msg is a return arg from a raise.  Join with new lines"""
-    if not is_string_like(msg):
+    if not isinstance(msg, six.string_types):
         msg = '\n'.join(map(str, msg))
     return msg
 
@@ -910,7 +909,7 @@ def _print_image(self, filename, filetype, *args, **kwargs):
 
         # Now that we have rendered into the bitmap, save it
         # to the appropriate file type and clean up
-        if is_string_like(filename):
+        if isinstance(filename, six.string_types):
             if not image.SaveFile(filename, filetype):
                 DEBUG_MSG('print_figure() file save error', 4, self)
                 raise RuntimeError(
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/blocking_input.py b/lib/matplotlib/blocking_input.py
index d7035221e8eb..516cbeec9bdb 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/blocking_input.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/blocking_input.py
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 
 import six
 from matplotlib import verbose
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_sequence_of_strings
 import matplotlib.lines as mlines
 
 import warnings
@@ -40,8 +39,6 @@ class BlockingInput(object):
     """
     def __init__(self, fig, eventslist=()):
         self.fig = fig
-        if not is_sequence_of_strings(eventslist):
-            raise ValueError("Requires a sequence of event name strings")
         self.eventslist = eventslist
 
     def on_event(self, event):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/cbook/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/cbook/__init__.py
index 2bec9f2be6a4..9a143cda4cbb 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/cbook/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/cbook/__init__.py
@@ -494,12 +494,14 @@ def iterable(obj):
     return True
 
 
+@deprecated('2.1')
 def is_string_like(obj):
     """Return True if *obj* looks like a string"""
     # (np.str_ == np.unicode_ on Py3).
     return isinstance(obj, (six.string_types, np.str_, np.unicode_))
 
 
+@deprecated('2.1')
 def is_sequence_of_strings(obj):
     """Returns true if *obj* is iterable and contains strings"""
     if not iterable(obj):
@@ -546,7 +548,7 @@ def file_requires_unicode(x):
 @deprecated('2.1')
 def is_scalar(obj):
     """return true if *obj* is not string like and is not iterable"""
-    return not is_string_like(obj) and not iterable(obj)
+    return not isinstance(obj, six.string_types) and not iterable(obj)
 
 
 def is_numlike(obj):
@@ -560,7 +562,7 @@ def to_filehandle(fname, flag='rU', return_opened=False):
     files is automatic, if the filename ends in .gz.  *flag* is a
     read/write flag for :func:`file`
     """
-    if is_string_like(fname):
+    if isinstance(fname, six.string_types):
         if fname.endswith('.gz'):
             # get rid of 'U' in flag for gzipped files.
             flag = flag.replace('U', '')
@@ -585,12 +587,12 @@ def to_filehandle(fname, flag='rU', return_opened=False):
 
 def is_scalar_or_string(val):
     """Return whether the given object is a scalar or string like."""
-    return is_string_like(val) or not iterable(val)
+    return isinstance(val, six.string_types) or not iterable(val)
 
 
 def _string_to_bool(s):
     """Parses the string argument as a boolean"""
-    if not is_string_like(s):
+    if not isinstance(s, six.string_types):
         return bool(s)
     if s.lower() in ['on', 'true']:
         return True
@@ -1219,10 +1221,11 @@ def finddir(o, match, case=False):
     is True require an exact case match.
     """
     if case:
-        names = [(name, name) for name in dir(o) if is_string_like(name)]
+        names = [(name, name) for name in dir(o)
+                 if isinstance(name, six.string_types)]
     else:
         names = [(name.lower(), name) for name in dir(o)
-                 if is_string_like(name)]
+                 if isinstance(name, six.string_types)]
         match = match.lower()
     return [orig for name, orig in names if name.find(match) >= 0]
 
@@ -1590,13 +1593,14 @@ def delete_masked_points(*args):
     """
     if not len(args):
         return ()
-    if (is_string_like(args[0]) or not iterable(args[0])):
+    if (isinstance(args[0], six.string_types) or not iterable(args[0])):
         raise ValueError("First argument must be a sequence")
     nrecs = len(args[0])
     margs = []
     seqlist = [False] * len(args)
     for i, x in enumerate(args):
-        if (not is_string_like(x)) and iterable(x) and len(x) == nrecs:
+        if (not isinstance(x, six.string_types) and iterable(x)
+                and len(x) == nrecs):
             seqlist[i] = True
             if isinstance(x, np.ma.MaskedArray):
                 if x.ndim > 1:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/cm.py b/lib/matplotlib/cm.py
index 10684da79157..bdf3e1575653 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/cm.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/cm.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def register_cmap(name=None, cmap=None, data=None, lut=None):
         except AttributeError:
             raise ValueError("Arguments must include a name or a Colormap")
 
-    if not cbook.is_string_like(name):
+    if not isinstance(name, six.string_types):
         raise ValueError("Colormap name must be a string")
 
     if isinstance(cmap, colors.Colormap):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/collections.py b/lib/matplotlib/collections.py
index 1090ed88f39f..938b08aefa3c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/collections.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/collections.py
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ def set_linestyle(self, ls):
             The line style.
         """
         try:
-            if cbook.is_string_like(ls) and cbook.is_hashable(ls):
+            if isinstance(ls, six.string_types):
                 ls = cbook.ls_mapper.get(ls, ls)
                 dashes = [mlines._get_dash_pattern(ls)]
             else:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/colorbar.py b/lib/matplotlib/colorbar.py
index be9311926f17..a080eb59247c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/colorbar.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/colorbar.py
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ def __init__(self, ax, cmap=None,
                                         linthresh=self.norm.linthresh)
             else:
                 self.formatter = ticker.ScalarFormatter()
-        elif cbook.is_string_like(format):
+        elif isinstance(format, six.string_types):
             self.formatter = ticker.FormatStrFormatter(format)
         else:
             self.formatter = format  # Assume it is a Formatter
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/colors.py b/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
index a97744611a3d..ec27e5146bb9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ def from_list(name, colors, N=256, gamma=1.0):
             raise ValueError('colors must be iterable')
 
         if (isinstance(colors[0], Sized) and len(colors[0]) == 2
-                and not cbook.is_string_like(colors[0])):
+                and not isinstance(colors[0], six.string_types)):
             # List of value, color pairs
             vals, colors = zip(*colors)
         else:
@@ -789,8 +789,7 @@ def __init__(self, colors, name='from_list', N=None):
         if N is None:
             N = len(self.colors)
         else:
-            if (cbook.is_string_like(self.colors) and
-                    cbook.is_hashable(self.colors)):
+            if isinstance(self.colors, six.string_types):
                 self.colors = [self.colors] * N
                 self.monochrome = True
             elif cbook.iterable(self.colors):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/contour.py b/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
index ab9b1b1cedf3..c3c10a293877 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ def get_label_width(self, lev, fmt, fsize):
         """
         Return the width of the label in points.
         """
-        if not cbook.is_string_like(lev):
+        if not isinstance(lev, six.string_types):
             lev = self.get_text(lev, fmt)
 
         lev, ismath = text.Text.is_math_text(lev)
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ def set_label_props(self, label, text, color):
 
     def get_text(self, lev, fmt):
         "get the text of the label"
-        if cbook.is_string_like(lev):
+        if isinstance(lev, six.string_types):
             return lev
         else:
             if isinstance(fmt, dict):
@@ -1300,7 +1300,7 @@ def _process_linestyles(self):
                     if lev < eps:
                         tlinestyles[i] = neg_ls
         else:
-            if cbook.is_string_like(linestyles):
+            if isinstance(linestyles, six.string_types):
                 tlinestyles = [linestyles] * Nlev
             elif cbook.iterable(linestyles):
                 tlinestyles = list(linestyles)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/dates.py b/lib/matplotlib/dates.py
index 65a7d249f45e..b7f1ad8fe0f6 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/dates.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/dates.py
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ def datestr2num(d, default=None):
     default : datetime instance
         The default date to use when fields are missing in `d`.
     """
-    if cbook.is_string_like(d):
+    if isinstance(d, six.string_types):
         dt = dateutil.parser.parse(d, default=default)
         return date2num(dt)
     else:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py b/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py
index 38c573b7e5ef..e66fed716ae0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@
 
 import matplotlib
 from matplotlib import afm, cbook, ft2font, rcParams, get_cachedir
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like
 from matplotlib.compat import subprocess
 from matplotlib.fontconfig_pattern import (
     parse_fontconfig_pattern, generate_fontconfig_pattern)
@@ -234,7 +233,7 @@ def win32InstalledFonts(directory=None, fontext='ttf'):
             for j in range(winreg.QueryInfoKey(local)[1]):
                 try:
                     key, direc, any = winreg.EnumValue( local, j)
-                    if not is_string_like(direc):
+                    if not isinstance(direc, six.string_types):
                         continue
                     if not os.path.dirname(direc):
                         direc = os.path.join(directory, direc)
@@ -688,7 +687,7 @@ def __init__(self,
             self.__dict__.update(_init.__dict__)
             return
 
-        if is_string_like(family):
+        if isinstance(family, six.string_types):
             # Treat family as a fontconfig pattern if it is the only
             # parameter provided.
             if (style is None and
@@ -985,7 +984,7 @@ def json_load(filename):
 
 
 def _normalize_font_family(family):
-    if is_string_like(family):
+    if isinstance(family, six.string_types):
         family = [six.text_type(family)]
     elif isinstance(family, Iterable):
         family = [six.text_type(f) for f in family]
@@ -1402,7 +1401,7 @@ def fc_match(pattern, fontext):
     _fc_match_cache = {}
 
     def findfont(prop, fontext='ttf'):
-        if not is_string_like(prop):
+        if not isinstance(prop, six.string_types):
             prop = prop.get_fontconfig_pattern()
         cached = _fc_match_cache.get(prop)
         if cached is not None:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/image.py b/lib/matplotlib/image.py
index aa62c700fa9c..d22e2e255381 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/image.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/image.py
@@ -1256,7 +1256,7 @@ def pilread(fname):
 
     handlers = {'png': _png.read_png, }
     if format is None:
-        if cbook.is_string_like(fname):
+        if isinstance(fname, six.string_types):
             parsed = urlparse(fname)
             # If the string is a URL, assume png
             if len(parsed.scheme) > 1:
@@ -1285,7 +1285,7 @@ def pilread(fname):
     # To handle Unicode filenames, we pass a file object to the PNG
     # reader extension, since Python handles them quite well, but it's
     # tricky in C.
-    if cbook.is_string_like(fname):
+    if isinstance(fname, six.string_types):
         parsed = urlparse(fname)
         # If fname is a URL, download the data
         if len(parsed.scheme) > 1:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
index 5165db5c824d..21f87fa3a843 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
 from matplotlib import rcParams
 from matplotlib.artist import Artist, allow_rasterization
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, silent_list, is_hashable
+from matplotlib.cbook import silent_list, is_hashable
 from matplotlib.font_manager import FontProperties
 from matplotlib.lines import Line2D
 from matplotlib.patches import Patch, Rectangle, Shadow, FancyBboxPatch
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ def __init__(self, parent, handles, labels,
             loc = rcParams["legend.loc"]
             if not self.isaxes and loc in [0, 'best']:
                 loc = 'upper right'
-        if is_string_like(loc):
+        if isinstance(loc, six.string_types):
             if loc not in self.codes:
                 if self.isaxes:
                     warnings.warn('Unrecognized location "%s". Falling back '
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/lines.py b/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
index abdca5e31144..c06dc715257b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@
 from . import artist, colors as mcolors, docstring, rcParams
 from .artist import Artist, allow_rasterization
 from .cbook import (
-    iterable, is_string_like, is_numlike, ls_mapper, ls_mapper_r, is_hashable,
-    STEP_LOOKUP_MAP)
+    iterable, is_numlike, ls_mapper, ls_mapper_r, STEP_LOOKUP_MAP)
 from .markers import MarkerStyle
 from .path import Path
 from .transforms import Bbox, TransformedPath, IdentityTransform
@@ -34,10 +33,9 @@
 
 def _get_dash_pattern(style):
     """Convert linestyle -> dash pattern
-
     """
     # go from short hand -> full strings
-    if is_string_like(style) and is_hashable(style):
+    if isinstance(style, six.string_types):
         style = ls_mapper.get(style, style)
     # un-dashed styles
     if style in ['solid', 'None']:
@@ -355,7 +353,7 @@ def __init__(self, xdata, ydata,
         if solid_joinstyle is None:
             solid_joinstyle = rcParams['lines.solid_joinstyle']
 
-        if is_string_like(linestyle):
+        if isinstance(linestyle, six.string_types):
             ds, ls = self._split_drawstyle_linestyle(linestyle)
             if ds is not None and drawstyle is not None and ds != drawstyle:
                 raise ValueError("Inconsistent drawstyle ({0!r}) and "
@@ -806,14 +804,15 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
             rgbaFace = self._get_rgba_face()
             rgbaFaceAlt = self._get_rgba_face(alt=True)
             edgecolor = self.get_markeredgecolor()
-            if is_string_like(edgecolor) and edgecolor.lower() == 'none':
+            if (isinstance(edgecolor, six.string_types)
+                    and edgecolor.lower() == 'none'):
                 gc.set_linewidth(0)
                 gc.set_foreground(rgbaFace, isRGBA=True)
             else:
                 gc.set_foreground(edgecolor)
                 gc.set_linewidth(self._markeredgewidth)
                 mec = self._markeredgecolor
-                if (is_string_like(mec) and mec == 'auto' and
+                if (isinstance(mec, six.string_types) and mec == 'auto' and
                         rgbaFace is not None):
                     gc.set_alpha(rgbaFace[3])
                 else:
@@ -840,7 +839,7 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
                 marker_trans = marker.get_transform()
                 w = renderer.points_to_pixels(self._markersize)
 
-                if (is_string_like(marker.get_marker()) and
+                if (isinstance(marker.get_marker(), six.string_types) and
                         marker.get_marker() == ','):
                     gc.set_linewidth(0)
                 else:
@@ -855,7 +854,7 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
                 if alt_marker_path:
                     alt_marker_trans = marker.get_alt_transform()
                     alt_marker_trans = alt_marker_trans.scale(w)
-                    if (is_string_like(mec) and mec == 'auto' and
+                    if (isinstance(mec, six.string_types) and mec == 'auto' and
                             rgbaFaceAlt is not None):
                         gc.set_alpha(rgbaFaceAlt[3])
                     else:
@@ -890,7 +889,7 @@ def get_marker(self):
 
     def get_markeredgecolor(self):
         mec = self._markeredgecolor
-        if (is_string_like(mec) and mec == 'auto'):
+        if isinstance(mec, six.string_types) and mec == 'auto':
             if rcParams['_internal.classic_mode']:
                 if self._marker.get_marker() in ('.', ','):
                     return self._color
@@ -909,7 +908,7 @@ def _get_markerfacecolor(self, alt=False):
         else:
             fc = self._markerfacecolor
 
-        if (is_string_like(fc) and fc.lower() == 'auto'):
+        if (isinstance(fc, six.string_types) and fc.lower() == 'auto'):
             if self.get_fillstyle() == 'none':
                 return 'none'
             else:
@@ -1106,7 +1105,7 @@ def set_linestyle(self, ls):
         ls : { ``'-'``,  ``'--'``, ``'-.'``, ``':'``} and more see description
             The line style.
         """
-        if is_string_like(ls):
+        if isinstance(ls, six.string_types):
             ds, ls = self._split_drawstyle_linestyle(ls)
             if ds is not None:
                 self.set_drawstyle(ds)
@@ -1289,7 +1288,8 @@ def update_from(self, other):
 
     def _get_rgba_face(self, alt=False):
         facecolor = self._get_markerfacecolor(alt=alt)
-        if is_string_like(facecolor) and facecolor.lower() == 'none':
+        if (isinstance(facecolor, six.string_types)
+                and facecolor.lower() == 'none'):
             rgbaFace = None
         else:
             rgbaFace = mcolors.to_rgba(facecolor, self._alpha)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/markers.py b/lib/matplotlib/markers.py
index 6e5c3e119c3b..c7b233103430 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/markers.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/markers.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 from . import rcParams
-from .cbook import is_math_text, is_string_like, is_numlike
+from .cbook import is_math_text, is_numlike
 from .path import Path
 from .transforms import IdentityTransform, Affine2D
 
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def set_marker(self, marker):
               marker in self.markers):
             self._marker_function = getattr(
                 self, '_set_' + self.markers[marker])
-        elif is_string_like(marker) and is_math_text(marker):
+        elif isinstance(marker, six.string_types) and is_math_text(marker):
             self._marker_function = self._set_mathtext_path
         elif isinstance(marker, Path):
             self._marker_function = self._set_path_marker
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mathtext.py b/lib/matplotlib/mathtext.py
index f22dbe96901f..6fd001ff9a76 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/mathtext.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/mathtext.py
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@
     ParserElement.enablePackrat()
 
 from matplotlib.afm import AFM
-from matplotlib.cbook import (Bunch, get_realpath_and_stat, is_string_like,
-                              maxdict)
+from matplotlib.cbook import Bunch, get_realpath_and_stat, maxdict
 from matplotlib.ft2font import (FT2Image, KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_FORCE_AUTOHINT,
                                 LOAD_NO_HINTING)
 from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, FontProperties, get_font
@@ -1841,7 +1840,7 @@ class Glue(Node):
     def __init__(self, glue_type, copy=False):
         Node.__init__(self)
         self.glue_subtype   = 'normal'
-        if is_string_like(glue_type):
+        if isinstance(glue_type, six.string_types):
             glue_spec = GlueSpec.factory(glue_type)
         elif isinstance(glue_type, GlueSpec):
             glue_spec = glue_type
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mlab.py b/lib/matplotlib/mlab.py
index 3c99ee340695..dfa22e01888b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/mlab.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/mlab.py
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ def detrend(x, key=None, axis=None):
         return detrend(x, key=detrend_linear, axis=axis)
     elif key == 'none':
         return detrend(x, key=detrend_none, axis=axis)
-    elif cbook.is_string_like(key):
+    elif isinstance(key, six.string_types):
         raise ValueError("Unknown value for key %s, must be one of: "
                          "'default', 'constant', 'mean', "
                          "'linear', or a function" % key)
@@ -2296,7 +2296,7 @@ def isvector(X):
 
 def safe_isnan(x):
     ':func:`numpy.isnan` for arbitrary types'
-    if cbook.is_string_like(x):
+    if isinstance(x, six.string_types):
         return False
     try:
         b = np.isnan(x)
@@ -2310,7 +2310,7 @@ def safe_isnan(x):
 
 def safe_isinf(x):
     ':func:`numpy.isinf` for arbitrary types'
-    if cbook.is_string_like(x):
+    if isinstance(x, six.string_types):
         return False
     try:
         b = np.isinf(x)
@@ -2329,8 +2329,8 @@ def rec_append_fields(rec, names, arrs, dtypes=None):
     *arrs* and *dtypes* do not have to be lists. They can just be the
     values themselves.
     """
-    if (not cbook.is_string_like(names) and cbook.iterable(names)
-            and len(names) and cbook.is_string_like(names[0])):
+    if (not isinstance(names, six.string_types) and cbook.iterable(names)
+            and len(names) and isinstance(names[0]), six.string_types):
         if len(names) != len(arrs):
             raise ValueError("number of arrays do not match number of names")
     else:  # we have only 1 name and 1 array
@@ -2380,7 +2380,7 @@ def rec_keep_fields(rec, names):
     Return a new numpy record array with only fields listed in names
     """
 
-    if cbook.is_string_like(names):
+    if isinstance(names, six.string_types):
         names = names.split(',')
 
     arrays = []
@@ -2477,7 +2477,7 @@ def rec_join(key, r1, r2, jointype='inner', defaults=None, r1postfix='1',
     (other than keys) that are both in *r1* and *r2*.
     """
 
-    if cbook.is_string_like(key):
+    if isinstance(key, six.string_types):
         key = (key, )
 
     for name in key:
@@ -2888,7 +2888,7 @@ def get_converters(reader, comments):
             seen[item] = cnt+1
 
     else:
-        if cbook.is_string_like(names):
+        if isinstance(names, six.string_types):
             names = [n.strip() for n in names.split(',')]
 
     # get the converter functions by inspecting checkrows
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/offsetbox.py b/lib/matplotlib/offsetbox.py
index 890a2a485191..4fb1db744270 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/offsetbox.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/offsetbox.py
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 from matplotlib import rcParams
 
 from matplotlib import docstring
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like
 
 #from bboximage import BboxImage
 from matplotlib.image import BboxImage
@@ -1042,7 +1041,7 @@ def __init__(self, loc,
         self.set_bbox_to_anchor(bbox_to_anchor, bbox_transform)
         self.set_child(child)
 
-        if is_string_like(loc):
+        if isinstance(loc, six.string_types):
             try:
                 loc = self.codes[loc]
             except KeyError:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pylab.py b/lib/matplotlib/pylab.py
index 8b2c96829bec..7482b3396755 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pylab.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pylab.py
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@
 import sys, warnings
 
 from matplotlib.cbook import (
-    flatten, is_string_like, exception_to_str, silent_list, iterable, dedent)
+    flatten, exception_to_str, silent_list, iterable, dedent)
 
 import matplotlib as mpl
 # make mpl.finance module available for backwards compatability, in case folks
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
index e265e37b5366..9c1191c76543 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 import matplotlib.colorbar
 from matplotlib import style
 from matplotlib import _pylab_helpers, interactive
-from matplotlib.cbook import dedent, silent_list, is_string_like, is_numlike
+from matplotlib.cbook import dedent, silent_list, is_numlike
 from matplotlib.cbook import _string_to_bool
 from matplotlib.cbook import deprecated
 from matplotlib import docstring
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ def figure(num=None,  # autoincrement if None, else integer from 1-N
     figLabel = ''
     if num is None:
         num = next_num
-    elif is_string_like(num):
+    elif isinstance(num, six.string_types):
         figLabel = num
         allLabels = get_figlabels()
         if figLabel not in allLabels:
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ def close(*args):
             # if we are dealing with a type UUID, we
             # can use its integer representation
             _pylab_helpers.Gcf.destroy(arg.int)
-        elif is_string_like(arg):
+        elif isinstance(arg, six.string_types):
             allLabels = get_figlabels()
             if arg in allLabels:
                 num = get_fignums()[allLabels.index(arg)]
@@ -2379,7 +2379,7 @@ def plotfile(fname, cols=(0,), plotfuncs=None,
 
     def getname_val(identifier):
         'return the name and column data for identifier'
-        if is_string_like(identifier):
+        if isinstance(identifier, six.string_types):
             return identifier, r[identifier]
         elif is_numlike(identifier):
             name = r.dtype.names[int(identifier)]
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/spines.py b/lib/matplotlib/spines.py
index 339753043e9c..c6b04fe43dba 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/spines.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/spines.py
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def is_frame_like(self):
         """
         self._ensure_position_is_set()
         position = self._position
-        if cbook.is_string_like(position):
+        if isinstance(position, six.string_types):
             if position == 'center':
                 position = ('axes', 0.5)
             elif position == 'zero':
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ def _calc_offset_transform(self):
         """calculate the offset transform performed by the spine"""
         self._ensure_position_is_set()
         position = self._position
-        if cbook.is_string_like(position):
+        if isinstance(position, six.string_types):
             if position == 'center':
                 position = ('axes', 0.5)
             elif position == 'zero':
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/style/core.py b/lib/matplotlib/style/core.py
index 6d8b95cdc31a..d741682b8228 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/style/core.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/style/core.py
@@ -89,14 +89,14 @@ def use(style):
 
 
     """
-    if cbook.is_string_like(style) or hasattr(style, 'keys'):
+    if isinstance(style, six.string_types) or hasattr(style, 'keys'):
         # If name is a single str or dict, make it a single element list.
         styles = [style]
     else:
         styles = style
 
     for style in styles:
-        if not cbook.is_string_like(style):
+        if not isinstance(style, six.string_types):
             _apply_style(style)
         elif style == 'default':
             _apply_style(rcParamsDefault, warn=False)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/table.py b/lib/matplotlib/table.py
index aa145170d565..80c17cfb92b4 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/table.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/table.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 from . import artist
 from .artist import Artist, allow_rasterization
 from .patches import Rectangle
-from .cbook import is_string_like
 from matplotlib import docstring
 from .text import Text
 from .transforms import Bbox
@@ -253,12 +252,12 @@ def __init__(self, ax, loc=None, bbox=None, **kwargs):
 
         Artist.__init__(self)
 
-        if is_string_like(loc) and loc not in self.codes:
+        if isinstance(loc, six.string_types) and loc not in self.codes:
             warnings.warn('Unrecognized location %s. Falling back on '
                           'bottom; valid locations are\n%s\t' %
                           (loc, '\n\t'.join(self.codes)))
             loc = 'bottom'
-        if is_string_like(loc):
+        if isinstance(loc, six.string_types):
             loc = self.codes.get(loc, 1)
         self.set_figure(ax.figure)
         self._axes = ax
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/testing/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/testing/__init__.py
index 4cdfe4bd8b9e..5b9dee44f6eb 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/testing/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/testing/__init__.py
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
 import matplotlib
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, iterable
+from matplotlib.cbook import iterable
 from matplotlib import rcParams, rcdefaults, use
 
 
 def _is_list_like(obj):
     """Returns whether the obj is iterable and not a string"""
-    return not is_string_like(obj) and iterable(obj)
+    return not isinstance(obj, six.string_types) and iterable(obj)
 
 
 def is_called_from_pytest():
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_cbook.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_cbook.py
index 12a79639a3a8..7e9f845e3548 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_cbook.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_cbook.py
@@ -19,30 +19,6 @@
 from matplotlib.cbook import delete_masked_points as dmp
 
 
-def test_is_string_like():
-    y = np.arange(10)
-    assert not cbook.is_string_like(y)
-    assert not cbook.is_string_like(y.reshape((-1, 1)))
-    assert not cbook.is_string_like(y.reshape((1, -1)))
-
-    assert cbook.is_string_like("hello world")
-    assert not cbook.is_string_like(10)
-
-    y = ['a', 'b', 'c']
-    assert not cbook.is_string_like(y)
-
-    y = np.array(y)
-    assert not cbook.is_string_like(y)
-
-
-def test_is_sequence_of_strings():
-    y = ['a', 'b', 'c']
-    assert cbook.is_sequence_of_strings(y)
-
-    y = np.array(y, dtype=object)
-    assert cbook.is_sequence_of_strings(y)
-
-
 def test_is_hashable():
     s = 'string'
     assert cbook.is_hashable(s)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/text.py b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
index 9e2d8be26842..4a734d48574f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/text.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 from matplotlib import rcParams
 import matplotlib.artist as artist
 from matplotlib.artist import Artist
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, maxdict
+from matplotlib.cbook import maxdict
 from matplotlib import docstring
 from matplotlib.font_manager import FontProperties
 from matplotlib.patches import FancyBboxPatch
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ def __init__(self,
             color = rcParams['text.color']
         if fontproperties is None:
             fontproperties = FontProperties()
-        elif is_string_like(fontproperties):
+        elif isinstance(fontproperties, six.string_types):
             fontproperties = FontProperties(fontproperties)
 
         self.set_text(text)
@@ -506,7 +506,8 @@ def set_bbox(self, rectprops):
                     pad = 0.3
 
             # boxstyle could be a callable or a string
-            if is_string_like(boxstyle) and "pad" not in boxstyle:
+            if (isinstance(boxstyle, six.string_types)
+                    and "pad" not in boxstyle):
                 boxstyle += ",pad=%0.2f" % pad
 
             bbox_transmuter = props.pop("bbox_transmuter", None)
@@ -1241,7 +1242,7 @@ def set_fontproperties(self, fp):
 
         ACCEPTS: a :class:`matplotlib.font_manager.FontProperties` instance
         """
-        if is_string_like(fp):
+        if isinstance(fp, six.string_types):
             fp = FontProperties(fp)
         self._fontproperties = fp.copy()
         self.stale = True
@@ -1798,7 +1799,7 @@ def _get_xy_transform(self, renderer, s):
             return BboxTransformTo(s)
         elif isinstance(s, Transform):
             return s
-        elif not is_string_like(s):
+        elif not isinstance(s, six.string_types):
             raise RuntimeError("unknown coordinate type : %s" % (s,))
 
         if s == 'data':
@@ -1865,14 +1866,16 @@ def _get_ref_xy(self, renderer):
 
         if isinstance(self.xycoords, tuple):
             s1, s2 = self.xycoords
-            if ((is_string_like(s1) and s1.split()[0] == "offset") or
-                  (is_string_like(s2) and s2.split()[0] == "offset")):
+            if ((isinstance(s1, six.string_types)
+                 and s1.split()[0] == "offset")
+                    or (isinstance(s2, six.string_types)
+                        and s2.split()[0] == "offset")):
                 raise ValueError("xycoords should not be an offset coordinate")
             x, y = self.xy
             x1, y1 = self._get_xy(renderer, x, y, s1)
             x2, y2 = self._get_xy(renderer, x, y, s2)
             return x1, y2
-        elif (is_string_like(self.xycoords) and
+        elif (isinstance(self.xycoords, six.string_types) and
               self.xycoords.split()[0] == "offset"):
             raise ValueError("xycoords should not be an offset coordinate")
         else:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py b/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
index 19cc3810a843..07976372f550 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
@@ -2057,7 +2057,7 @@ def subs(self, subs):
         """
         if subs is None:  # consistency with previous bad API
             self._subs = 'auto'
-        elif cbook.is_string_like(subs):
+        elif isinstance(subs, six.string_types):
             if subs not in ('all', 'auto'):
                 raise ValueError("A subs string must be 'all' or 'auto'; "
                                  "found '%s'." % subs)
@@ -2105,7 +2105,7 @@ def tick_values(self, vmin, vmax):
 
         numdec = math.floor(vmax) - math.ceil(vmin)
 
-        if cbook.is_string_like(self._subs):
+        if isinstance(self._subs, six.string_types):
             _first = 2.0 if self._subs == 'auto' else 1.0
             if numdec > 10 or b < 3:
                 if self._subs == 'auto':
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/axes_grid.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/axes_grid.py
index 5765168d215e..f63daa73fa1f 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/axes_grid.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/axes_grid.py
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ def __init__(self, fig,
 
         h = []
         v = []
-        if cbook.is_string_like(rect) or cbook.is_numlike(rect):
+        if isinstance(rect, six.string_types) or cbook.is_numlike(rect):
             self._divider = SubplotDivider(fig, rect, horizontal=h, vertical=v,
                                            aspect=False)
         elif isinstance(rect, SubplotSpec):
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ def __init__(self, fig,
 
         h = []
         v = []
-        if cbook.is_string_like(rect) or cbook.is_numlike(rect):
+        if isinstance(rect, six.string_types) or cbook.is_numlike(rect):
             self._divider = SubplotDivider(fig, rect, horizontal=h, vertical=v,
                                            aspect=aspect)
         elif isinstance(rect, SubplotSpec):
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/axes_size.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/axes_size.py
index 147a34e25838..552d76d1432f 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/axes_size.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/axes_size.py
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ def from_any(size, fraction_ref=None):
     """
     if cbook.is_numlike(size):
         return Fixed(size)
-    elif cbook.is_string_like(size):
+    elif isinstance(size, six.string_types):
         if size[-1] == "%":
             return Fraction(float(size[:-1])/100., fraction_ref)
 
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/colorbar.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/colorbar.py
index 4f4991a8fe55..793eca5010da 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/colorbar.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/colorbar.py
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ def __init__(self, ax, cmap=None,
                 formatter = ticker.LogFormatter()
             else:
                 formatter = None
-        elif cbook.is_string_like(format):
+        elif isinstance(format, six.string_types):
             formatter = ticker.FormatStrFormatter(format)
         else:
             formatter = format  # Assume it is a Formatter
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/exceltools.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/exceltools.py
index f230e0641dd2..2fae5b273004 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/exceltools.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/exceltools.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def rec2excel(r, ws, formatd=None, rownum=0, colnum=0, nanstr='NaN', infstr='Inf
     """
 
     autosave = False
-    if cbook.is_string_like(ws):
+    if isinstance(ws, six.string_types):
         filename = ws
         wb = excel.Workbook()
         ws = wb.add_sheet('worksheet')
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py
index 2b44de576dc0..d2541b6effca 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py
@@ -2341,15 +2341,7 @@ def scatter(self, xs, ys, zs=0, zdir='z', s=20, c=None, depthshade=True,
 
         s = np.ma.ravel(s)  # This doesn't have to match x, y in size.
 
-        if c is not None:
-            cstr = cbook.is_string_like(c) or cbook.is_sequence_of_strings(c)
-            if not cstr:
-                c = np.asanyarray(c)
-                if c.size == xs.size:
-                    c = np.ma.ravel(c)
-            xs, ys, zs, s, c = cbook.delete_masked_points(xs, ys, zs, s, c)
-        else:
-            xs, ys, zs, s = cbook.delete_masked_points(xs, ys, zs, s)
+        xs, ys, zs, s, c = cbook.delete_masked_points(xs, ys, zs, s, c)
 
         patches = Axes.scatter(self, xs, ys, s=s, c=c, *args, **kwargs)
         if not cbook.iterable(zs):