PreDecrement PreDecrement[a] subtracts 1 from a and returns the new value. Attributes[PreDecrement] := {HoldFirst, Protected, ReadProtected} Simple examples In[1]:= toModify = 3 Out[1]= 3 In[2]:= PreDecrement[toModify] Out[2]= 2 In[3]:= toModify Out[3]= 2