Do you know how the term ok started
By rosebug23
@rosebug23 (1906)
Australia
5 responses
@kataztrophy (1836)
• United States
8 Nov 06
The historical record shows that "O.K." appeared as an abbreviation for oll korrect (a conscious misspelling of "all correct") in Boston newspapers in 1839, and was reinterpreted as "Old Kinderhook" in the 1840 United States presidential election. Because it is a recent word borne of word play, and because it is so widely used, "O.K." has also invited many folk etymologies. These competing theories are not supported by the historical written record, except in that folk and joke etymologies influenced the true history of the word. Since the 19th century, the word has spread around the world, the "okay" spelling of it first appearing in British writing in the 1860s. Spelled out in full in the 20th century, 'okay' has come to be in everyday use among English speakers, and borrowed by non-English speakers. Occasionally a humorous form okee dokee (or okey dokey) is used, as well as A-ok.
1 person likes this
@rosebug23 (1906)
• Australia
8 Nov 06
That is a good explanation but not the one i have . A man who worked for either Ford or GM was the final checker of the cars this name evades me but he would write his name to say the car passed inspection as the company became larger and busier he shortened it to his just his initals O.K. so this was written an all cars out of the plant it just became standard and as more poeple were employed to help him they also wrote O.K. as he was their boss. This has been kept up and to this day all cars inspected by that company have O.K on them. This has spread and now is the English for it has passed inspection all is fine. Thank you i hope we can both agree that there are possibly several explanations
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
9 Nov 06
How interesting is that....I never even thought obout it....thats a good trivia question....thanks for the enlightening....
@Donnyboy8 (786)
• United States
7 Nov 06
No I can't say that I do even though it is such a well used word in English vocabulary
1 person likes this
@rosebug23 (1906)
• Australia
8 Nov 06
From my understanding of where it started it has always been ok
