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When did OK Become Okay?
OK, the real story of OK is hilarious. In 1839, an abbreviation craze was sweeping Boston. Charles Gordon Greene, editor of the Boston Morning Post, came up with an abbreviation — o.k. — which he indicated meant “all correct” if you didn’t know how to spell “all correct.” OK, it was funny in 1839.
What came first OK or okay?
Short answer: Yes! Both “OK” and “okay” mean “all right,” and they can both be used to express agreement. Many people think “OK” is a shortened version of “okay,” but, as explained above, “OK” came first. In fact, “OK” has been around since the 1840s, with “okay” emerging a few decades later.
What is the origin of the word OK?
“OK” is one of the most common words in the English language, but linguistically it’s a relative newbie. It’s just 150 years old, and traces its roots back to 19th century Boston. OK first appeared as an abbreviation for “Oll Korrect,” printed in a satirical article about grammar, the Economist continues.
Is OK a universal word?
“OK” (the literal word, not just the phonetic spelling) is by many sources reguarded as the most widely used word in the world, and that is a relatively new thing – having been coined in 1838 – so it’s pretty universal.
What is OK short for?
It’s more correct to write OK because it is actually an acronym. OK stands for “oll korrect”, or “all correct”.
Why do we say okay?
Most historians agree that OK stands for “all correct,” which is why we use the word to express agreement, approval or just as a way of saying that everything is fine. The shorthand expression came about during the late 1830s, when it became popular to use abbreviations rather than entire terms during conversations.
Should I say okay OK?
Okay and OK are two acceptable spellings of the same word. There’s no difference between OK and okay. The older term, OK, (possibly) derived from an abbreviation for an intentional misspelling of “all correct.” The terms are both standard English.
Is OK slang for okay?
It can mean “assent” when it is used as a noun (“the boss gave her the OK to the purchase”) or, more colloquially, as a verb (“the boss OKed the purchase”). OK, as an adjective, can express acknowledgement without approval….Variations.
| Variation | Where used/Origins |
|---|---|
| hokay | Used in English as an alternative. |
Is OK OK in every language?
In Spanish, okay is pronounced just the same but may be spelled okey or simply OK. In French, Dutch, and Hungarian, it may be spelled OK or oké. In Norwegian, Finnish, and Estonian, it is spelled okei or OK. In Swedish, Slovene, Serbian, Polish, Croatian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, the word is written as okej or OK.
Is OK a real word?
OK (spelling variations include okay, O.K., ok and Ok) is an English word (originally American English) denoting approval, acceptance, agreement, assent, acknowledgment, or a sign of indifference. OK is frequently used as a loanword in other languages. The origins of the word are disputed.
How did OK turn into okay?
Despite plenty of space, there was an abbreviation fad in newspapers of the time that might remind one of our own time. So too all right became O.W., as an abbreviation for oll wright. And all correct became o.k., as an abbreviation for oll korrect.
Is it OK to say OK?
Okay and OK are two acceptable spellings of the same word. There’s no difference between OK and okay. The older term, OK, (possibly) derived from an abbreviation for an intentional misspelling of “all correct.” The terms are both standard English. For extremely formal writing, always consult the relevant style guide.
What is the difference between ‘OK’ and ‘Okay’?
Okay and OK mean the same thing. Okay and OK are two acceptable spellings of the same word. In formal writing, follow the requirements of your style guide. You have the answers to the questions. There’s no difference between OK and okay. The older term, OK, (possibly) derived from an abbreviation for an intentional misspelling of “all correct.”
What does k mean in texting?
Regularly used in text messages or online, the word/letter/phrase/term, “K” really only means one thing: Fuck You. The use of a “K” should be reserved for very selective moments of frustration or annoyance, otherwise it sends the wrong impression.
Is it OK or okay?
However, within its own text it uses OK. In response to a question posed on their website, CMOS states that okay “is an equal variant (also standard).” In contrast, the Associated Press Stylebook requires OK, even in words like OK’ing (apostrophe and all).
How do you spell okay?
What is the correct way to spell the word meaning all right: OK, Ok, or okay. The dictionaries spell it different ways. Answer: The fact that different dictionaries spell it differently gives you the answer: there is no single definitive spelling.