`E` is an lvalue --- a location that only becomes a load/store when it is converted to an rvalue or assigned to. `&` takes an lvalue and gives a pointer to that

`E` is an lvalue --- a location that only becomes a load/store when it is converted to an rvalue or assigned to. `&` takes an lvalue and gives a pointer to that location, so `E` is eliminated without being converted to an rvalue or assigned to, so no harm done. The real question if why have "lvalues" at all. If assignment always had to have a pointer on the left hand: &a := ..., b := ... rather than: a = ..., , *b = ... then this problem goes away.