# The Origin of OK

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [October 30, 2003, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413 "2003-10-30T09:00:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![venusnair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@venusnair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/venusnair)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413/1 "2003-10-30T09:00:40Z")

</div>

Regarding the info on OK, what heard was that during the early days of Ford, there used to be a Quality engineer called Otto Kraus, and after inspection, he used to sign his initials on the bonnet as OK.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413/2 "2003-10-30T10:50:58Z")

</div>

Welcome to the SDMB, **venusnair**.  
Link to the article:  
[What does “OK” stand for?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_250.html)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steven\_G](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_g/32/5080_2.png) [@Steven\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_G)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413/3 "2003-10-30T12:13:02Z")

</div>

unless you can show that Ford produced cars in the 1840’s, this is no go as an origin!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413/4 "2003-10-30T23:15:54Z")

</div>

Yep, despite a whole bunch of cute stories to the contrary, this is one phrase where we are very confident that we know the true origin. It’s well-enough documented to satisfy all but the lunatic fringe.

That aside, welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **venusnair** , glad to have you with us.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413/5 "2003-10-31T00:28:23Z")

</div>

Welcome to the SDMB, **venusnair**!

Don’t get discouraged, my first post wasn’t half as good as yours.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![venusnair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@venusnair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/venusnair)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413/6 "2003-11-15T13:56:23Z")

</div>

Thanks all of you,

I feel great to be amongst you all. Looking forward for a lot of intercation.

Take care  
Venu