English-Russian, Russian-English Dictionary

I thoroughly checked other Russian dictionaries before buying this one. It contains a vast quantity of words, possible alternate uses of words, and excellent conjugation/declension tables. It has served me well in college Russian and continues to do so.

I found the book very helpful for translating words. However, there's much to be desired with regards to how to use the words. Not enough information on grammar (cases taken, etc.). But very good for basic vocabulary.

I have used Katzner's dictionaries since 1988 and have never encountered any problems. Before that, for the first three years, I used a variety of British variant dictionaries and encountered frequent problems. Nothing is more frustrating to me than translating a Russian word/idiom I don't know into an ENGLISH word I don't know or at least, don't fully understand. My fellow American students along the way all felt the same: Katzner was a God-send. My only critique of the Katzner dictionaries is that I wish they provided more assistance with the participial forms created from the verbs.

Lack of grammar forms, laconic definitions, and flat-out errors mar this much-touted "first Russian dictionary for Americans." The Defense Language Institute does a disservice in handing this out to military linguists... and leaving their supervisors and senior linguists to pick up the pieces down the line. Don't waste your money - hie thee to an Oxford!

For a dictionary priced in the same vicinity as the Oxford Russian-English, Katzner fails to deliver the quality. Grammatical forms are, as a rule, not provided. Idiomatic examples are paltry. Worst of all, Katzner perpetuates some of the mistranslations from the Soviet-era Smirnitsky, from which he evidently copied uncritically. Katzner is adequate for most students, but if you're willing to settle for a dictionary that will often leave you high and dry and at times mislead you entirely, why not choose one of the much cheaper mass-produced titles? Why pay Oxford prices for Berlitz quality?