Customer Reviews
a good modern dictionary - By: The Navigator, 12 Sep 2008 
This is a decent modern dictionary, rather more 'hip' than the Oxford equivalents & none the worse for that.
Dictionaries arein part entertainment (as Sam Johnson knew) & it is as enjoyable to browse this as it is to look up a word for your homework. A good effort!
I'm surprised a reviewer comments its too long - there are many bigger dictionaries, & this compacts a great deal into a reasonably compact package.
A fine dictionary - By: J A C Corbett, 18 Aug 2008 
Having lasted me more than half my life, seen me through High School, two university degrees, authorship of two books & hundreds of thousands of words of journalism, my crumbling copy of the Oxford English Dictionary was looking rather jaded, not to mention out-of-date. Collins Concise Dictionary is a more than decent update. I like the clarity that comes from reading from clear white pages, the words listedin blue print; I like the Encylopaedic entries (look up any town or city & it will give you basic details; ditto contemporary & historical figures). One thing it could have expanded upon was word origins - but that is a minor quibble that can be attributed to its size more than any editorial omission. What more can I say? It's a good dictionary & will hopefully last me as long as its predecessor.
Easy Clear Functional Dictionary - By: R. Hallett, 24 Jul 2008 I have not been very impressed with Collins Dictionariesin the past. This new Collins dictionary is nice & easy to use. The words one is looking for are highlightedin blue, this makes it easy to find words speedily. I looked up some recent & fashionable words, which to my surprise werein this dictionary. It's clearly laid out & a perfectly serviceable English Dictionary. Recommended.
It's a dictionary! - By: The Penguin, 24 Jul 2008 
It's a dictionary, butin format terms, well published, good quality paper & quality printing. Not sure about the "added value" of the electronic links, given the wealth of online dictionaries available - but as a bookshelf dictionary it's a good buy.
Big, beautiful and... blue - By: captive8122@hotmail.com, 22 Jul 2008 I'm definitely not the brightest sparkin the furnace, so that maybe explains why I wasn't expecting quite such a weighty tome. I suppose I thought that 'concise' may mean somewhat condensed or streamlined, & to be fair, the dictionary is most definitely sleek & to the point. But it is also huge.
The cover is an eye-catching glossy blue, & pleasant to stroke while you sit & feel a bit intimidated about holding a languagein your lap, & thinking about the immense scholarship that went into its creation. The pages are light & matte, easy to flick through, & I do find it useful that the words on each page are highlightedin blue with their definitionsin black. No more squinting to find what you're looking for.
There are fascinating entries for people & places, as well as brief notes on preferred academic forms & structure, which should be useful for students. There is also an informative foreword, giving an interesting introduction to English, English usage, & the gradual evolution of our language. Just as an aside... idly flicking through the dictionary reminds you just what a beautiful language it is, too.
The icing on the cake is the ability to register your dictionary online using the provided code. This allows you access to the dictonary online, wherever you are & whenever you need it, & also provides any new entries & information, ensuring that you're up to date.
Allin all, it's a really lovely edition, just be careful you don't drop it on your toes!
