1) How authoritative is this dictionary?
The Collins Spanish Dictionary is a bilingual dictionary of English and Spanish derived from the Collins Word Web, an analytical linguistics database. It contains usage guides for English and Spanish (known as Lengua y Uso and Language in Use respectively) and English and Spanish verb tables. In 2009, the dictionary was brought for the iPhone & iPad. The iOS app of this dictionary, which has become one of the most popular Spanish dictionaries in the App store
2)How reputable is it’s publisher?
The publisher of the dictionary is Harper-Collins which is a fairly reputable publishing company.
3)Is it written by one or many people?
Previous editions were written by Collin Smith and as new editions came out, there were various other contributors who were involved in the re-writing process.
4)When was it published?
This dictionary was published most recently in 2005. The other years it was published are: 1971, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2007, 2000, and 2003.
5) In what forms is it available?
It is available as a hardcover, and as a smart phone app.
6) How widely is it distributed?
It is not distributed very widely, but it is a well known resource.
7) Is it cited widely?
It is not cited widely in the United States.
8) List at least three projects for which a translator would consult this dictionary.
1) Coming across unfamiliar words.
2) Studying abroad and needing a reference to understand the difference in meaning in particular words.
3) Educating people unfamiliar with Spanish about the historical context of a word and/or introductory language courses for Spanish.
9) Use the dictionary. Look up a few words or pieces of information in it; then check the information it provides against other sources. Do other sources confirm what the dictionary says? Is this dictionary purely historic interest, or is it relevant for contemporary usage as well?
The dictionary is fairly accurate and explicit about word definitions varying from region to region. It has examples that apply to life and culture, words that are commonly confused, and extra emphasis on fundamental Spanish verbs such as hacer, poder, poner, ser, and estar.
10) How user-friendly is the dictionary? Is it’s information presented in a coherent way, and is it easy to locate and readily retrievable?
The dictionary is color-coded and very easy to use. The dictionary also has pronunciations for both English and Spanish in the Phonetic alphabet. It also has plenty of information written in a coherent manner. It is very easy to access since it is also available as a smart phone app