Reader comments on "Review of the Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary"

I bought the new Collins Advanced Learner's Dictionary on Friday. I was quite surprised at the price!

I can already say that this dictionary lives up to my expectations. The definitions are clear, the examples help to learn and the grammar column is certainly a good solution that makes the layout much more user-friendly. It's really a pleasure to work with the dictionary!

I think the most important factor that makes the dictionary so good is that every word is defined very clearly and precisely. It's easy to understand a word after only reading the definition, without examples. However, if I have any doubts, the examples clear them up. They also provide very useful information that helps to use the new words on my own.

I also find the frequency diamonds very useful. For me they have two functions:

1. They increase motivation to learn words that are among the group of the most frequently used ones.
2. They increase motivation by showing that I'm already good: Frequency bands 5,4,3 and 2 include about 6500 most frequently used words: I know almost all of them. Frequency band 1 includes 8100 further words: I know a good deal of them. This helps to see the progress I make and being aware of one's own progress is essential in learning.

The grammar column is really good. I think it's much more convenient than in dictionaries in which grammar info is given in the main entry. What they call 'pragmatics' is quite useful, especially: approval, disapproval, emphasis — it helps to use words correctly.

I think these are the most important impressions I have had so far. On the whole, I like the dictionary very much and I can also recommend it to everyone who is looking for a good dictionary.

I totally agree with you about the Collins COBUILD Dictionary. I always have one on my desk, while I'm teaching, and it's certainly the best learner's dictionary I've ever come across.