# O.K., OK, Ok, ok, okay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 18, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071 "2012-09-18T14:55:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/21 "2012-09-18T16:38:50Z")
I just say ‘No way’. You want something from me? Show me a hoop snake first. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/22 "2012-09-18T16:40:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I just say ‘No way’. You want something from me? Show me a hoop snake first. Show the cash first. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/23 "2012-09-18T16:41:24Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > What the heck does O.K. stand for? If anything. > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > [The Master speaks](Dear Ms. Stinson,). not with you holding his lips shut. maybe this > **[What does “OK” stand for?](https://www.straightdope.com/21341673/what-does-ok-stand-for)** ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/24 "2012-09-18T16:42:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I just say ‘No way’. You want something from me? Show me a hoop snake first. > [@kayaker](#): > > Show the cash first. hoop snakes are down the other hall and 3rd door on the right. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/25 "2012-09-18T16:46:18Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > not with you holding his lips shut. > > maybe this > > [What does “OK” stand for? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/503/what-does-ok-stand-for) Huh. How did that happen? But thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/26 "2012-09-18T16:46:47Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > And, of course, umkay is OK. Or NotOkay. ---
**Author:** ![My\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@My\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Lord)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/27 "2012-09-18T19:39:18Z")
## Sheesh, with all that _okays_ I thought you all were gonna talk about this guy [http://www.starstills.com/product\_images/d/630/ss2788656\_-\_photograph\_of\_joe\_pesci\_as\_leo\_getz\_from\_lethal\_weapon\_3\_available\_in\_4\_sizes\_framed\_or\_unframed\_buy\_now\_at\_starstills\_\_44446\_zoom.jpg](http://www.starstills.com/product_images/d/630/ss2788656_-_photograph_of_joe_pesci_as_leo_getz_from_lethal_weapon_3_available_in_4_sizes_framed_or_unframed_buy_now_at_starstills__44446_zoom.jpg) XD ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/28 "2012-09-18T20:29:29Z")
I use “okay.” “Ok” looks like a sound effect, like you’re choking on something. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/29 "2012-09-18T20:34:25Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Huh. How did that happen? But thanks. My guess is you were writing a letter to Ms. Stinson and got distracted. OK? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/30 "2012-09-18T20:40:36Z")
I typically spell it “okay.” For what it’s worth, [Allan Metcalf opts for the spelling “OK” in his book](http://www.amazon.com/OK-Improbable-Story-Americas-Greatest/dp/0199892539/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348000754&sr=1-2&keywords=OK), though he discusses alternative spellings. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/31 "2012-09-18T20:44:14Z")
My company’s style guide prefers OK, so that’s what I use most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/32 "2012-09-19T03:06:39Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > My guess is you were writing a letter to Ms. Stinson and got distracted. OK? As a matter off fact, I was. Ah, the perils of multitasking. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/33 "2012-09-19T03:36:54Z")
Sometimes I’ll be contrary and say “Kay-O”. Like Mork. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/34 "2012-09-19T05:35:02Z")
OK. Always two capitals. No dots. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/35 "2012-09-19T05:38:09Z")
OK; it’s minimalist. ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/36 "2012-09-19T08:03:01Z")
Any of those are fine by me except Ok. ---
**Author:** ![Luk3112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9adbd/32.png) [@Luk3112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luk3112)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/37 "2012-09-19T08:37:31Z")
A’ight nigga ice cold ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/38 "2012-09-21T10:13:30Z")
I prefer to use it like a word, so I go with “okay.” I may use “ok” in texting or similar, but the word is “okay.” I hate the initialism, as it really isn’t one, even if it did stand for “Oll [All] Korrect” back in the day (which still sounds dubious to me). ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/39 "2012-09-21T21:30:43Z")
I definitely prefer “okay” in my writings. It just feels right. But I’m okay with OK. Or any permutation. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071/40 "2012-09-21T22:31:32Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Sometimes I’ll be contrary and say “Kay-O”. Like Mork. I do that too, fairly often, actually. I prefer “okay.” Second choice is “OK.” I don’t like “Ok,” “ok,” or “O.K.” Since I play a lot of MMOs, I often just shorten it to “k,” or write “kk,” which seems to be the accepted MMO-player way of stating acknowledgment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k-ok-ok-ok-okay/635071.md?page=1)