As declared by Smith in the Preface: "The Dictionary of Geography ... is designed mainly to illustrate the Greek and Roman writers, and to enable a diligent student to read them in the most profitable manner".
史密斯在本辞典前言中阐明：“此地理学辞典……旨在厘清那些希腊罗马作家，并使勤勉的学生得以最有益的方式阅读他们。