Collins Dictionaries

I am a French native speaker who, a few years ago, used to tutor people (adults and teenagers). This was a great resource; very useful and practical. I stopped tutoring, but I kept the dictionary. I have lived in England for more than a decade, and, so, believe it or not, I sometimes forget how to say certain words in my own native language! This proves very handy when such silly moments occurs... Ha ha ha!

More seriously, I love learning foreign languages and I trust Collins as a provider show more of such materials. I am sure there are other publishers out there as good as they are, but I have my odd habits; and so I stick with them (eg I also have the Polish equivalent...). show less

This dictionary has a major problem. (At least the 4th Edition does.) It does not show where the pronunciation stress goes on the Italian words. This is a crucial failing, and I therefore would not recommend this dictionary. (Other Collins Italian dictionaries DO show where words are stressed.)

What makes one dictionary better than another? Putting aside questions of authority; which are of course open to debate, for most of us ease of use would be high on the list of priorities. Here the Collins Concise comes out very well; with the subtle use of colour the entries are very easy to find. The listed words appear in blue in a bold sans typeface with the following definition slightly indented and in an easy to read black serif face; different forms of the listed word appear within show more the description again in blue type. The alphabetical divisions are very easy to find with the help of little blue "tabs" printed progressively down the outside edge of the page.

It is something of and encyclopaedic dictionary as it includes numerous entries for people and places; it also lists abbreviations, acronyms and symbols. Also given full listing are common idioms and fixed noun phrases whilst others are included in the key word definition. The word pronunciation system follows the International Phonetic Alphabet, with a very necessary key provided (although not readily locatable).

Particularly informative is the inclusion of notes on USAGE. For example look up the commonly misused word "infer", and a note describing its misuse along with an explanation indicating the advantages of maintaining its distinct meaning will be found. Where applicable such a note is highlighted with a column of light blue bullet points.

Up to date, visually appealing, exceptionally easy to use and with clear and succinct definitions, my only complaint is that the key to the word pronunciation system is not easy to find being buried in the Guide to the Use of the Dictionary. show less

Seville has always been a romantic place to visit. The city's non-European "feel", perhaps due to the Moorish influences on much of the architecture, seems to lend itself to gentle strolls through narrow streets full of whitewashed houses, of which the interior courtyards are brimmming over with flowers. Through its links with the New World, Seville became extremely wealthy in the 15th and 16th centuries, nurturing the artistic talents of such masters as Murillo and Velazquez. This book show more details many of the attractions of Seville, including Christopher Columbus' tomb in the Cathedral, sampling mouthwatering tapas, attempting the famous "sevillana" dances or climbing the Giralda tower, and the city of Bizet's "Carmen" must come high on the readers list of holiday destinations. This guide gives all the information needed to help the reader enjoy their holiday. Betweeen 25 and 35 alphabetically listed topics such as beaches, museums, nightlife, restaurants and many more, together with a gazetteer section, a brief cultural history, biographies and lots of travel tips to ensure that the traveller knows where to go and what to do. Recommended walks and suggested excursions are accompanied by relevant individual maps. show less