This is a kind of "false dichotomy". Not using single-letter variable name doesn't ncessarily mean using long verbose variable name. A variable name can be one word or two words that explains well while not using much space. Things usually need balance instead of extreme.
Like how you might find f(x)=2x+1 easier to read than double_and_increment(some_number) = 2 * some_number + 1.