OK, okay, or ok

Jehhillenberg · May 17, 2013

When writing, as in novels and professionally (or academically), I typically use "okay." Outside of that, and informally, yeah I'll use "Ok" since it's commonly understood now.

Reziac · May 18, 2013

A few other opinions:

http://www.thefictiondesk.com/blog/ok-or-okay/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okay

TheaBlowsKisses · May 18, 2013

Add me to the "okay" chorus. When training for my profession (which doesn't have much to do with writing fiction, but grammar is important), it was constantly stressed to us that it was "okay" and "all right", never "ok" and "alright".

(Though if the latter came up in fictional dialogue, I probably wouldn't pitch a fit. "ok" just looks silly, though.)

Chase · May 18, 2013

TheaBlowsKisses said:
"alright" (Though if the latter came up in fictional dialogue, I probably wouldn't pitch a fit.

Not a gauntlet in the dirt, but does the above imply "alright" is somehow pronounced differently than "all right"? Aren't they pronounced the same, sort of like "alot" and "a lot"? (I realize "alright" is accepted by some publishers, while every publisher separates "a" and "lot.")

WriterTrek · May 18, 2013

If it's written out I prefer "okay," because it looks more like an actual word. I find myself having characters just say "K" sometimes though.

But consistency is king.

Jehhillenberg · May 18, 2013

Chase said:
Not a gauntlet in the dirt, but does the above imply "alright" is somehow pronounced differently than "all right"? Aren't they pronounced the same, sort of like "alot" and "a lot"? (I realize "alright" is accepted by some publishers, while every publisher separates "a" and "lot.")

Yeah, I've seen "alright" published in works. I've briefly researched discussions on the word. "all right" and "alright" can be used for different contexts. I feel "alright" is its own word by now. I often see "alright" corrected to "all right." It just doesn't feel right to me for every situation.

Everything on the table is all right here and nothing's missing.

Are you alright? Alright, then. Cool.

Sort of derail. Sowry!

GraemeTollins · May 19, 2013

I use okay, but I also use alright. To me, all right seems to mean something a little different.

eg. They were alright - They were okay
They were all right - They were correct

Damn language.

julie_a_w · May 20, 2013

I found myself wondering the same thing the other day. I've been using OK in my manuscript, but noticed that it was spelled out Okay in all of the novels I've been reading lately.

OK, okay, or ok

Jehhillenberg

N/A

Reziac

Resident Alien

TheaBlowsKisses

steaming up the e-readers

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

WriterTrek

Jehhillenberg

N/A

GraemeTollins

julie_a_w