Programmers Write Too Much Code

Beginning writers have this same problem
They use twenty words where five will do
Elements of Style says Omit Needless Words
A good practice for writers is to consider each word, each sentence
"Can I cut this out?"
If yes, then cut it
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information says the same thing
"Can I erase part of this line?"
If yes, then erase it
You can do the same thing with code