Langenscheidt is always reliable no matter what the language, but, as a German company, you'd expect their German dictionary to be supreme. This one doesn't disappoint. I've lived in Germany and Austria and I can count on one hand the number of times I couldn't find a legitimate word in this dictionary. It even includes such Austrian (i.e. non-standard) words like 'Marille' (apricot) and 'Obers' (cream) and is loaded with phrases I haven't been able to find in any other dictionaries like 'sich um des Kaisers Bart streiten' (to squabble over little things).Besides a 700-page dictionary this book also includes lists of irregular verbs, abbreviations (in German and English), geographical and historical names (also in German and English), musical works and numerals. At the beginning there is a pronounciation guide and in the middle there is a handy weight and measure conversion chart.A necessity for anyone studying German.