Okay
Questions
1. What comes to mind when you hear the abbreviation ‘OK’?
2. Are you okay?
3. Is the word ‘OK’ used in your language?
4. Do I look OK?
5. Do you think ‘OK’ is a useful abbreviation?
6. Name something you’re just OK at doing.
7. What things are not OK to do in your house?
8. Is everything okay in your country at the moment?
Videos
How a cheesy joke from the 1830s became the most widely spoken word in the world.
OK is thought to be the most widely recognized word on the planet. We use it to communicate with each
OK is thought to be the most widely recognized word on the planet. We use it to communicate with each
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other, as well as our technology. But it actually started out as a language fad in the 1830’s of abbreviating words incorrectly.
Young intellectuals in Boston came up with several of these abbreviations, including “KC” for “knuff ced,” “OW” for “oll wright,” and KY for “know yuse.” But thanks to its appearance in Martin Van Buren’s 1840 presidential re-election campaign as the incumbents new nickname, Old Kinderhook, OK outlived its abbreviated comrades.
Later, widespread use by early telegraph operators caused OK to go mainstream, and its original purpose as a neutral affirmative is still how we use it today.
Young intellectuals in Boston came up with several of these abbreviations, including “KC” for “knuff ced,” “OW” for “oll wright,” and KY for “know yuse.” But thanks to its appearance in Martin Van Buren’s 1840 presidential re-election campaign as the incumbents new nickname, Old Kinderhook, OK outlived its abbreviated comrades.
Later, widespread use by early telegraph operators caused OK to go mainstream, and its original purpose as a neutral affirmative is still how we use it today.
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Category: Education & Language | History & Culture
Keywords: Common expressions | Okay