This advice applies particularly to writers who are either not sure of their facts, or cannot make up their minds whether or not to include a passage that pleases them but may not please all their readers.
‘Dear Arthur – Many thanks for letting me read the manuscript of your reminiscences. I find them lively and interesting reading, but venture to suggest leaving out the anecdote about the Noble Lord, the Admiral’s daughter and the cauliflowers. It’s certainly very funny, but you don’t want a libel action on your hands.’