11.   In earlier years, he may have smiled indulgently on seeing us and our makeshift tables with their colourless array of old books and goods.

12.   Although he has played well at times, Law has not been playing consistently up to the standard he set in earlier years.

13.   Among the industries showing the largest increases in planned job cuts from a year earlier were computers, financial services and retailing.

14.   AMERICAN EXPRESS NET EDGES UP American Express reported stronger-than-expected earnings, though they were up only slightly from a year earlier.

15.   Armstead said he learned his lesson a year earlier when he was arrested for stealing clothes.

16.   At least he was in his earlier years.

17.   Beethoven, a marvelous orchestrator in his earlier years, seems sometimes to have miscalculated in later music.

18.   Both companies reported second-quarter earnings on Wednesday that were higher than a year earlier and exceeded analysts expectations.

19.   A report showed average household spending was unchanged in August from a year earlier, surpassing expectations.

20.   After that, critics in Congress could further cripple the program by denying funds to the reintroduction team, as was done in earlier years of political skirmishing.