&gt;If &quot;++&quot; seriously trips you up as you learn to program, perhaps programming isn&#x27;t for you...<p>And by induction you can use this argument to allow any amount of bullshit in a language.<p>&gt;&quot;+=&quot; is no better.<p>&quot;+= x&quot; saves you from &quot;= long_variable_name + x&quot; which is arguably less readable.<p>&quot;++&quot; saves you from ... &quot;+= 1&quot; which is already entirely clear, and I have no idea why anyone feels the need to shorten it.<p>Sure it&#x27;s a relatively small complexity cost, but it&#x27;s also an even more microscopic advantage.