Why we say “OK”

Vox
12 Sept 201805:22
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video explores the origins and evolution of the word "OK", tracing it back to an 1830s fad among Boston intellectuals of intentionally misspelling abbreviations. A couple lucky breaks, including its adoption by President Van Buren as a nickname and growing use in telegraphy, helped OK become widely used. Its distinct look and sound also aided its longevity. Now an everyday reflex, OK affirms without judgment. Despite obscure beginnings, it has endured, even becoming the first word spoken from the moon.

Takeaways
  • 😀 OK started as a fad in Boston in the 1830s for intentionally misspelling abbreviations as inside jokes
  • 😲 A flailing President Van Buren adopted OK as a nickname for his 1840 reelection campaign, helping OK go mainstream
  • ⚡ The telegraph cemented OK's popularity in the 1840s since it was easy to tap out the 2 letters unambiguously
  • 👀 OK stuck around partly because starting words with K was attention-grabbing in advertising and print
  • 🤔 By the 1890s, OK's origins were obscured and newspapers spread false myths about its history
  • 🤝 Today OK is used as the ultimate neutral affirmative to accept information without judgment
  • 😎 Allan Metcalf explains OK "affirms without evaluating," simply acknowledging and accepting
  • 📈 We use OK constantly as a reflex without even noticing
  • 🚀 OK was likely the first word spoken when humans landed on the moon in 1969
  • 🎉 From silly 1830s fad to astronaut lingo, not bad for 2 little letters!
Q & A

  • What was the origin of the word 'OK'?

    -OK originated as a fad in Boston in the 1830s where young intellectuals amused themselves by intentionally misspelling abbreviations. 'OK' stood for 'oll korrect', a humorous misspelling of 'all correct'.

  • How did 'OK' become popular in American culture?

    -'OK' became popular thanks to president Martin Van Buren's 1840 reelection campaign, in which his supporters formed 'OK Clubs'. This campaign spread the term nationwide.

  • Why was the telegraph important for popularizing 'OK'?

    -The telegraph, which used Morse code dots and dashes, helped popularize 'OK' because the two letters were easy to tap out and unlikely to be confused with other letters. It became a standard code to acknowledge a message was received.

  • Why does the letter K help make 'OK' memorable?

    -The letter K is uncommon at the start of English words, so it catches the eye. A 'Kraze for K' in advertising used Ks to draw attention. The K in 'OK' makes it visually striking.

  • What false myth about the origin of 'OK' became popular?

    -A popular false myth arose that 'OK' came from the Choctaw word 'okeh', meaning 'it is so'. But OK's origins were obscure by the 1890s and newspapers perpetuated false histories.

  • How did the meaning of 'OK' evolve over time?

    -Originally a joke, OK took on serious use in telecommunications. Now it is used as a neutral affirmative - accepting information without conveying emotion.

  • Where was 'OK' famously used in the 20th century?

    -'OK' was likely the first word spoken from the moon when Apollo 11 landed in 1969, showing its embedded status in English.

  • Why did abbreviated slang like 'OK' become popular in Boston in the 1830s?

    -Young intellectuals enjoyed amusing each other and showing they were 'in the know' with coded messages. Intentionally misspelled abbreviations like 'OK' delighted those who understood their humorous intent.

  • How exactly did Martin Van Buren's campaign spread 'OK'?

    -Van Buren supporters formed 'OK Clubs' nationwide wearing banners with 'OK', and the term featured heavily in press coverage, even being used insultingly by opponents. This made it known to all.

  • What are some examples of how 'OK' is used in modern English?

    -Now 'OK' is used in phrases like 'I got home OK' (unharmed), 'the food was OK' (acceptable), and to confirm changed plans. It affirms without judging.

Outlines
00:00
📝 The story behind the origin and evolution of the word 'OK'

This paragraph traces the history of the word 'OK' from its beginnings as a fad abbreviation 'oll korrect' used by young intellectuals in Boston in the 1830s. It explains how the abbreviation gained popularity during Martin Van Buren's 1840 reelection campaign and became further established thanks to the telegraph. It also touches on some of the false myths around the word's origins and how it has become embedded in our everyday language and communication.

05:10
😠 Asking the guys to stop whatever they are doing

A short paragraph asking the guys to cut out whatever behavior they are engaging in.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡fad
A fad refers to something that is popular for a short period of time. The video explains that in the 1830s, using abbreviated spellings of phrases was a fad among certain groups. For example, using 'KC' for 'know yuse' or 'OW' for 'oll wright'. The abbreviation 'OK' emerged from this fad.
💡nickname
A nickname is an informal, alternate name for a person or place. The video describes how 'OK' was adopted as a nickname by President Martin Van Buren during his 1840 re-election campaign, based on his hometown of Kinderhook, New York. His supporters formed 'OK Clubs'.
💡telegraph
The telegraph was an early communication device that transmitted messages using electric pulses. It debuted in 1844, just after the initial popularization of 'OK'. Telegraphs used shorthand codes like 'OK' to efficiently confirm receipt of messages, which further spread the term.
💡Kraze for K
Around 1900, there was a trend of using the letter K instead of C at the start of words, in advertising and media. For example saying 'Katch' instead of 'Catch'. This was done to grab people's attention. The distinct look and sound of the letter K helped drive the popularity of the word OK.
💡myths
Myths refer to widely-held but untrue stories. By the 1890s, the origins of 'OK' in a joking fad had been forgotten. Newspapers published speculative myths about the history of the word, some of which persist today. For example, falsely linking it to the Choctaw word 'okeh'.
💡neutral affirmative
An 'affirmative' means something that expresses agreement or acceptance. The word 'OK' has become established as a neutral way to affirm or acknowledge something, without conveying any strong positive or negative feelings.
💡unharmed
If someone 'got home OK', it simply means they returned safely without being physically harmed. This demonstrates how 'OK' affirms a neutral state of being alright or acceptable.
💡acceptable
Something that is 'acceptable' meets the basic required standard, though it may not be outstanding. For instance, saying food was 'OK' means it was fine to eat, though not necessarily delicious. This shows the neutrality of 'OK'.
💡reflex
A reflex is an automatic reaction that you do without thinking consciously about it. The video states that saying 'OK' has become reflexive - we use it so frequently without even keeping count.
💡moon landing
The video suggests 'OK' was the first word spoken by humans when they landed on the moon in 1969. This demonstrates how the word had become universally-recognized across languages by that point after over a century of popularization.
Highlights

OK actually traces back to an 1830s fad of intentionally misspelling abbreviations used as inside jokes by young intellectuals in Boston

The abbreviated term 'OK' emerged from the phrase 'oll korrect' and started going mainstream on March 23, 1839 when it was published in the Boston Morning Post

In 1840, OK was adopted as a nickname by President Martin Van Buren's reelection campaign, firmly establishing it in the American vernacular

The telegraph, which used dots and dashes to transmit messages, helped popularize OK as a standard term to acknowledge receipt of a transmission

The use of K instead of C in spelling was an advertising trend to catch attention, which may explain OK's memorability

The claim that OK comes from the Choctaw word 'okeh' meaning 'it is so' is likely a myth from the 1890s

Today, OK is used as an 'ultimate neutral affirmative' to acknowledge information without conveying any feelings

OK was arguably the first word spoken by humans when they landed on the moon, demonstrating its embedded status in language

On March 23, 1839, the abbreviation OK was first published in the Boston Morning Post, marking its emergence into mainstream American culture

President Martin Van Buren adopted OK as a nickname for his 1840 reelection campaign after it had become an American cultural phenomenon

The telegraph's use of OK to confirm receipt of transmissions in the 1860s demonstrated its transition into a serious, functional term

A late 19th century Kraze for K in advertising and print increased OK's memorability through its visibly distinct letter K

Claims linking OK to Choctaw likely emerged in the 1890s once OK's actual origins had been forgotten

OK affirms information neutrally without conveying emotion, part of why it is used so ubiquitously today

The saying of OK during the 1969 moon landing cemented its status as deeply embedded in modern English vernacular

Transcripts

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