# Statistical study of the word "OK"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistical-study-of-the-word-ok/270499>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 21, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistical-study-of-the-word-ok/270499 "2004-10-21T22:36:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistical-study-of-the-word-ok/270499/1 "2004-10-21T22:36:21Z")

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I’m looking for some kind of study that shows how often the word “ok” is used by the average human every day. Also, possibly it’s prevalence throughout the world.

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**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistical-study-of-the-word-ok/270499/2 "2004-10-22T01:52:31Z")

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> [@Splanky](#):
>
> I’m looking for some kind of study that shows how often the word “ok” is used by the average human every day. Also, possibly it’s prevalence throughout the world.

I’m doing a statistical survey on the incorrect usage of it’s/its in these postings.

Did you originally type “it’s”?

It’s its! OK?

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**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistical-study-of-the-word-ok/270499/3 "2004-10-22T19:38:42Z")

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Not truly what you’d call “statistics,” but nonetheless it gives you some impression on the popularity of OK. Quote [Wordorigins.org](http://www.wordorigins.org/wordoro.htm):

> [@](#):
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> Mencken claims that US troops deployed overseas during WWII found it already in use by Bedouins in the Sahara to the Japanese in the Pacific. It was also one of the first words spoken on the surface of the moon.

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**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistical-study-of-the-word-ok/270499/4 "2004-10-22T20:22:20Z")

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Ancilliary question: when did “ok” become “okay” (which I prefer, for example) in the US? Any reason? Is it spelt out in other countries?

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistical-study-of-the-word-ok/270499/5 "2004-10-22T21:10:13Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> **Ancilliary question: when did “ok” become “okay” (which I prefer, for example) in the US? Any reason? Is it spelt out in other countries?**

For the background of where “O.K.” came from, see Cecil’s column: [What does “OK” stand for?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_250.html)

The first spelled-out version in the OED is from 1919, but it was spelled “okeh” not “okay”. This spelling, popularized by Woodrow Wilson, is derived from the assuption that it’s a Choctaw word meaning “it is” or “it is so”.

The earliest spelling “okay” in the OED dates from 1929.

> [@](#):
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> 1929 J. P. McEvoy Hollywood Girl ix. 147 Jimmy (dashing out door): I’ll kill the son of a—Girl (going back to kitchenette): Okay, big boy.

I have no idea why McEvoy spelled it that way.