word choice - Formal alternative for "suck"



What is a more decent/formal alternative for the word suck? I want to use it in the context of being bad at something.


To be precise, I want to translate "To suck less at a job every day" to formal English.



Answer



I think you just used it. Any alternative is going to depend on exactly where you are using the phrase. A CV will need a different expression from chatting to your mother.



I'm bad at ...
I'm not all that good at ...
I find it difficult to ...
I can't ... for toffee.


If I tried to arrange flowers it would end up looking like a hedge.



To suck less is to improve:



Every day, I want to improve at ...
I'd like to get better at ...
I'm working at becoming more proficient in ...



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