### Bug report **Bug summary** Function `is_string_like` returns True for numpy `object` arrays **Code for reproduction** ```python import numpy as np from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like print(is_string_like(np.array(map(str, [1,2,3]), dtype=object))) ``` **Actual outcome** ``` True ``` **Expected outcome** ``` False ``` The problem is that the line 707 `obj + ''` in `is_string_like` does not generate an exception with such numpy array. **Matplotlib version** - [ ] Matplotlib version: 1.5.3 - [ ] OS: Ubuntu 14.04 - [ ] Python and Matplotlib Installed with Anaconda