terrible at + activity
Describing poor ability
Use terrible at for things someone does badly.
She is terrible at maths.
terrible for or terrible at?
Terrible at describes poor skill or ability. Terrible for describes harmful effects or unsuitable situations.
Quick answer
When do you use terrible at and terrible for?
Use terrible at for lack of skill and terrible for for harmful consequences or suitability.
I am terrible at remembering names.
Smoking is terrible for your health.
Smoking is terrible for your health.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
terrible for + person/thing
Describing harmful effects
Use terrible for when something has a bad effect on someone or something.
Too much stress is terrible for sleep quality.
terrible for + purpose
Describing unsuitability
Use terrible for when something is unsuitable for a task or purpose.
This phone is terrible for gaming.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
terrible at
He is terrible at cooking.
having very poor skill
terrible for
Fast food is terrible for your health.
harmful or unsuitable
bad at
She is bad at directions.
less strong alternative for poor skill
bad for
Lack of sleep is bad for concentration.
less strong alternative for harmful effects
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using terrible for with skills
Use terrible at for abilities and performance.
✕ He is terrible for tennis. ✓ He is terrible at tennis.Using terrible at for harmful effects
Use terrible for when something causes harm.
✕ Smoking is terrible at your lungs. ✓ Smoking is terrible for your lungs.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. I am terrible ___ remembering passwords.
2. Too much sugar is terrible ___ your teeth.
3. This chair is terrible ___ office work.
Check your sentence in context
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Free to try · No signup required
Frequently asked questions
Can terrible at be followed by a verb?
Yes. It is commonly followed by a gerund, such as terrible at singing.
Is terrible for always about health?
No. It can describe any harmful or unsuitable effect.
What is a softer alternative to terrible?
Bad, poor, and not very good are milder alternatives.
Related preposition guides
Write with confidence in Linguix
Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.
