?

okay or ok?

  1. Okay

    21 vote(s)
    95.5%
  2. Ok

    1 vote(s)
    4.5%
  3. O.k

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. O.K.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Nicolle Evans

    Nicolle Evans Member

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    okay or ok?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by Nicolle Evans, Jun 18, 2016.

    Actual rules?

    Your own rules?

    What do you use or prefer to use?
     
  2. izzybot

    izzybot (unspecified) Contributor

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    You left out OK and O.K.! :D

    Why are there so many ways to spell this, honestly.

    In proper writerly stuff, I go with 'okay', but casually I use 'ok' all the time.
     
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  3. Justin Rocket 2

    Justin Rocket 2 Contributor Contributor

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    Are you referring to Oz, the prison setting, or Oz, the munchkin land?
     
  4. Oscar Leigh

    Oscar Leigh Contributor Contributor

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    I use okay in writing but in dialogue and real life I use ok. But really, they all sound the same so there's only some distinction.
     
    Brindy likes this.
  5. thirdwind

    thirdwind Member Contest Administrator Reviewer Contributor

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    Both "okay" and "OK" are acceptable. Just make sure you're consistent throughout the manuscript.
     
    SethG likes this.
  6. Brindy

    Brindy Senior Member

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    I do the same
     
  7. Sack-a-Doo!

    Sack-a-Doo! Contributor Contributor

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    I read somewhere that 'OK' is the acceptable way to do it, but I've never been fond of it, so I always use 'okay.' I hope it doesn't turn out to be a deal-breaker with some publisher or other.
     
  8. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    OK and okay are both considered standard English. Other versions, while common, are not.
     
    Oscar Leigh likes this.
  9. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    I *think* I've only seen 'okay' in modern trad published books, but I can't be certain.

    I use okay and my agent didn't change it in her revisions.
     
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  10. Necronox

    Necronox Contributor Contributor

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    I have honestly never seen it written down as O.k (or some variant thereof with the dot in betwixt)

    I always wrote it down as Okay, though I have seen it written as Ok.
     
    Oscar Leigh likes this.
  11. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    It's obviously because I'm so used to 'okay' but 'ok' looks truncated to me. If I see it I want to get a red pencil and add '-ay' to the end.
     
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  12. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    If you're gonna write it as OK, both letters should be capitalized (if you're writing standard English at any rate).
     
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  13. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    I'm going to use o'K' in comic sans because I'm edgy.
     
  14. Sack-a-Doo!

    Sack-a-Doo! Contributor Contributor

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    That's good to know.
     
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  15. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    Like it. V.edgy. Gritty even.
     
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  16. Tusitala

    Tusitala New Member

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    I know that it STARTED as just two letters (OK), but there's something about my brain that refuses to accept that as a full word in its own right. I use "OK" if I'm texting someone, but in every other situation I prefer "okay".
     
  17. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

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    I started with OK, but went to "okay," because I could do more with it. Like have a character respond, "Okaaaaayyy?" dubiously.
     

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