本词典共选录936个词条,约1500个词和词组,近15000个例句,主要摘自编著者在近40年的阅读、翻译和审校他人译他人人译稿时所积累的数以万计的卡片,另一部分则参考外有关的工具书。在所收集的绝大部分常用词中,都包含不同程度的疑难问题。这些问题很多都是一般读者感到似懂,而不完全明白;能用,但下笔时又没有把握的;有些词条中的疑难问题甚至让某些较成熟的译者也颇感棘手。
《简明英英·英汉·汉英词典》正文收录了25000余个英语词条,主要选自《高中英语新课程标准》、《大学英语课程教学要求》、《英语专业四、八级词汇表》和剑桥证书考试(The Cambrige First Certificate Examination)所要求掌握的英语词汇。
The Wordsworth Advanced Learners' Dictionary is unique in that it combines the elements of thesaurus, usage guide, lexicon and historical survey in one volume. As well as the usual features of a dictionary, this book includes expository panels which present a point of usage,the history of the word, the area of vocabulary or the nuances of a definition. As David Crystal says of the book in his Introduction, ' The test,quite simply, is to open it, at any page, and see if you can stop yourself browsing. I couldn't.