This is a small handbook one can carry in one's purse or pocket, yet it is one of the most useful dictionaries one can have. There are many features to help one to use the words correctly, and to make the definition easier to read--and to find (headwords are given in blue, for instance). All abbreviations are explained in English and in Spanish. There are both English and Spanish pronunciation guides, and there is a guide to written Spanish conventions. In the back are conjugations of Spanish verbs and a list of irregular English verb parts. It also has a list of numbers and how they are used in both Spanish and English. I've found this one of the most useful of Spanish dictionaries, and certainly the handiest.