The problem with solutions like this is that they break the abstraction of using algebraic notation for calculations. We're conditioned to expect calculations

The problem with solutions like this is that they break the abstraction of using algebraic notation for calculations. We're conditioned to expect calculations to be written in algebraic notation, and indeed one of the original selling points of C is that it lets you express calculations in that form. To undo that is a massive shame. The calculation itself absolutely MUST look like this: a + b While maybe it's not too bad for simple addition, think of compound expressions with multiple terms.