I got the funniest note about one of my limericks on OEDILF. The workshopper made a suggestion for one of my lines, which he didn't think sounded quite right. However, he didn't think his suggestion sounded quite right either, so he said, "but it's less not quite right than the current line 1."

Now...is there a word for "less not quite right?"

Pointlessly convoluted?

Better?

a cut above

1. But, it's less "not quite right" than the current line.

2. But, it's better than the current line.

3. But, it's a cut above the current line.

I prefer the first sentence. It says exactly what its author intended to say. (I would've punctuated it as I have above, though.) The second sentence is not the same thing at all. (I know we've discussed double negatives as not quite being the same thing as positives before on board.) The third setnence is slightly better than the second one, but not very.

The first is rather similar in tone and style to Richard's quip of its being pointlessly convoluted, except I would say that it was purposefully convoluted. In other words, chillax, folks!

Arnie's better is most direct and to the point.

Less wrong might work. Or less off.

Thus if "a cut above" is slightly better than "better", but not very, then it is a cut above "better", which is exactly what k was looking for

We were asked for "a word" for the phrase. Since my suggestion is the only one-word answer, I humbly submit that mine is better than the others.

arnie: Yes, then, it's a cut above

Oh, Arnie, how many times do you have to right on this board?

The fact is, I agree with Zmj. While, I admit, it is a bit convoluted, Alkahuna's comment was right on target. I just can't imagine saying it in a better way.

I have a problem with using 'better', which is the comparative of 'good'. The workshopper's view was that the limerick was not good in either version (though the later version was an improvement).

I would think what you'd want to say is "less awkward" or "less inaccurate", depending on whether the flaw is one of expression or one of content.