Letter: Clearly a mistake to use the word

Sir: Lord Rees-Mogg's assertion (3 August) that the Prime Minister 'should no doubt refloat the pound' brings to mind the advice drummed early into Cambridge mathematics undergraduates: to avoid the use of words such as 'clearly' or 'obviously' in mathematical proofs.

Experience had shown that most errors occur at precisely the point where such words are used.

Yours sincerely,

CONSTANTINE GOULIMIS

London, SW7

4 August