The origins of this term are hazy, with multiple proposed explanations. The most common, however, is that it was an abbreviation of “oll korrect,” a comical misspelling of “all correct.” Why did “OK” catch on while the fad of comical misspelling faded? As proofreaders, though, we’re grateful that deliberate typos are no longer in fashion.
Boston abbreviation fad
OK is actually the original version from which okay is derived from. At some point, somebody decided to spell the sound “o” and “k” make when placed together, but rest assured, nothing changes about its definition or use with either version. In the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), upon which the World Wide Web is based, a successful response from the server is defined as OK (with the numerical code 200 as specified in RFC 2616). The Session Initiation Protocol also defines a response, 200 OK, which conveys success for most requests (RFC 3261).
As such, it https://chicken-road-apk.com/ never hurts to check your style guide if you have one. The extremely versatile okay and OK can express agreement, change the topic, check for understanding, and verify that things are all right. If you’re like most people, the first word you thought of was okay—or was it OK? Is OK simply a shortened version of okay? If you want to make sure your answer is the correct one, you will have to get the answers to those questions. It also works as an interjection used to express agreement or approval.
OK vs. Okay – Usage & Difference
Are all the same words and can be used interchangeably with one another in both informal and formal writing scenarios. In fact, OK is the original preferred spelling of the word, with other versions following. It can work as an adjective, noun, verb, or interjection. Okay and OK are two acceptable spellings of the same word. In formal writing, follow the requirements of your style guide.
In fact, the two-lettered spelling OK is sometimes separated by periods. Are all acceptable spellings of the word and what you use is a matter of preference. Otherwise, it’s a matter of preference! Just make sure to use one spelling consistently throughout each document. And if you’d like an expert to help with this, our proofreaders are always available. The origin of OK is disputed; however, most modern reference works hold that it originated around Boston as part of a fad in the late 1830s of abbreviating misspellings; that it is an initialism of «oll korrect» as a misspelling of «all correct».
- It can work as an adjective, noun, verb, or interjection.
- Are all acceptable spellings of the word and what you use is a matter of preference.
- According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the okay spelling emerged after a few decades.
- The country-wide publicity surrounding the election appears to have been a critical event in OK’s history, widely and suddenly popularizing it across the United States.
OK American Dictionary
As an adjective, it’s synonymous with acceptable, passable, or good. Something that is OK is positive but not as positive as it could be. Arguments for a more Southern origin for the word note the tendency of English to adopt loan words in language contact situations, as well as the ubiquity of the OK particle. Similar particles exist in native language groups distinct from Iroquoian (Algonquian, Cree cf. «ekosi»). If you have been cautious about whether it should be OK, okay, or O.K., you aren’t alone. Let’s look at where this word came from, how it should be used, and why you can use either spelling without fear of confusing your readers.
Is one form more formal than the other?
In this post, then, we’re looking at how to use “OK” and “okay” in your work. Some of the oldest written references stem from the slogan used in 1840 by the American Presidential candidate, President Martin Van Buren, who was seeking another term in office. His nickname was “Old Kinderhook,” and supporters called themselves the “OK Club” as a campaign slogan.
Okay is more common in edited writing, but OK appears about a third of the time. OK is always spelled with capital letters (as is O.K.) as the generally accepted form since it is, in theory, the acronym of oll korrect, which is explained below. Okay is written as any other word, in lowercase unless it’s at the beginning of a sentence.
The Choctaw language was one of the languages spoken at this time in the Southeastern United States by a tribe with significant contact with African slaves.18 The major language of trade in this area, Mobilian Jargon, was based on Choctaw-Chickasaw, two Muskogean-family languages. «Vote for OK» was snappier than using his Dutch name.11 In response, Whig opponents attributed OK, in the sense of «Oll Korrect», to the bad spelling of Andrew Jackson, Van Buren’s predecessor. The country-wide publicity surrounding the election appears to have been a critical event in OK’s history, widely and suddenly popularizing it across the United States.
verb
- Okay is written as any other word, in lowercase unless it’s at the beginning of a sentence.
- Around the same time, President Martin Van Buren, nicknamed “Old Kinderhook” because he was from Kinderhook, New York, was running for reelection.
- The origins of this term are hazy, with multiple proposed explanations.
- Arguments for a more Southern origin for the word note the tendency of English to adopt loan words in language contact situations, as well as the ubiquity of the OK particle.
- In fact, the two-lettered spelling OK is sometimes separated by periods.
This origin was first described by linguist Allen Walker Read in the 1960s. Read gives a number of subsequent appearances in print. The general fad is speculated to have existed in spoken or informal written U.S. English for a decade or more before its appearance in newspapers. OK’s original presentation as «all correct» was later varied with spellings such as «Oll Korrect» or even «Ole Kurreck». However, the AP Stylebook specifies using “OK.” And other style guides may recommend checking a dictionary for the preferred spelling.
Browse Nearby Words
Okay is a commonplace term that is understood world-round, but you may find it spelled differently from one text to another. The above is from the Providence Journal, the editor of which is a little too quick on the trigger, on this occasion. We said not a word about our deputation passing «through the city» of Providence.—We said our brethren were going to New York in the Richmond, and they did go, as per Post of Thursday. An interjection extends its verb sense to agree or approve.
Around the same time, President Martin Van Buren, nicknamed “Old Kinderhook” because he was from Kinderhook, New York, was running for reelection. “Vote for OK” became his campaign slogan. Even though Old Kinderhook lost the election in 1840, OK remained popular and spread abroad. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the okay spelling emerged after a few decades.
There are many theories about the origins of the word, some more plausible than others. The Oxford English Dictionary and the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology agree that it apparently has an early-19th-century American origin in the abbreviation of oll korrect, a jocular misspelling of all correct. It’s actually okay that derives from OK. The exact genesis of OK is unclear, but one popular theory contends that in the nineteenth century, people began spelling “all correct” phonetically (“oll korrect” or “orl korrect”) as a bit of a laugh. Later, they shortened it to the initials OK.
