What is the difference between fall 30% and fall by 30%? Thanks. And can I use decrease (increase) 30%, or I could only say decrease (increase) by 30%? Many thanks!

What is the difference between "by the end of (a specific time)" and "as of the end of ....", thanks What is the difference between "by the end of 2013", "as of the end of 2013". many thanks.

From the beginning, at the outset, in the first place Any difference among them? Thank you very much!

How to express this meaning, please? I wanna express this meaning: the role called Judith in the play is designed as a spoiled child first, but later, she develops into an independent and strong woman. Can I say: The female characters, including later Judith, are the representatives of strength and independence. What I wanna ask is: Is it right to use 'later' in this context? If not, how could I put it? Thank you very much.

My enemies within this month. I'm gonna destroy them! multitude mute nag nascent nestle nicety niggling nostrum nothing more than nothing less than obnoxious no good ground on occasion oscillate other than out of the question outlaw outspoken over the hill overcome pace pad out paltry parameter parlance partaker path pathology patrician patriotic patronize pay off pay tribute to periphery perk up persona pidgin piercing piercing eye pilgrim pilgrimage pit plausible pollock posh possession posterity posthumous precious precipitate precipitation predecessor predicament preeminence premiere prescient pressing pressing matters prestigious presumptuous primogenitor primogeniture procreation prolific propensity protagonist protocol pump out punctuate puritanism put to bed quack quash quintessential rack rags rags to riches rail against ramble rant reactionary recuperate remain remedy the want reminiscent rend repent requisite rerun retardant revel revel in revivify rewarding rhapsody rite rule on salsa satiate satiation scant scathing scorch scrap scroll down scrupulous searing sedition sedulity sedulous sedulously self absorbed shake up shamble shoal shrine shuffle silhouette simulated slimy slip out sludge sluggish snap up snivel sociation sombre spasm spearhead specimen spell spiked spin doctor spite spring from spring up spring upon sprint staid stake stand by staying power strand string sturdy sublimating succumb to supplant supreme sustained sustenance swivel take it or leave it target population terrine testimony the last word thread threadbare throw away to the touch toe hold toil toiled token toxic token toy with treacle tribute trifling tuck away tuck into turf turn out turn to advantage twitch tyrant undeclared undue unfailing unhorse unhorsed unpatriotic unsupervised unutterable utterance vice vivify wean wear thin whiff wimp out win over wing wuss

a touch of and a hint of When referring to "a little bit", is there any difference between a touch of and a hint of? Thank you very much.

leather on willow In some articles, when talking about cricket, the saying of "leather on willow" always shows up. Could anyone explain this to me? Where does it derive from and what does it mean? Thank you very much. :)

Difference between fidelity and loyalty? Thank you very much. :)