OK, ok or okay?

stuckupmyownera · Apr 25, 2008

OK, ok or okay?

slcboston · Apr 25, 2008

How about just a general "thumbs up?"

slcboston · Apr 25, 2008

In all seriousness - between the latter two I think it depends on context. (Waits for the grammar and spelling mavens to descend upon me.)

As for the first - unless you're writing about Wyatt Earp, my instinct would be to leave it alone. :guns:

Harper K · Apr 25, 2008

I use "okay," and nothing else -- and, as a Professional Grammar Nerd and copy editor, it'd be my instinct to change anything else. "OK" stands out too much on the page for me. Plus, it's the postal code for the state of Oklahoma.

But I've definitely seen variations on "okay" in published books. I swear I saw either "OK" or "O.K." (argh!) used throughout a YA novel I read recently, and it drove me nuts. It all comes down to the publisher's house style.

I think "okay" is the most correct.

scope · Apr 25, 2008

For what it's worth, I always use okay. I think it reads better, makes the point, and doesn't interrupt.

KAP · Apr 25, 2008

Okay. I recently finished a novel that used OK in dialogue, and it stood out and made me take notice each time. Not a good thing. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I think.

Danalynn · Apr 25, 2008

I much prefer to use Okay, also.

I agree, OK jumps right off the page, and I notice it every time. Pulls me out of the story.

DonnaDuck · Apr 25, 2008

Word picks up ok as incorrect and OK as correct. In fact, Firefox picks up the former as incorrect as well and the latter correct. Usually I use okay if I need the saying drawn out (FF picks up both the upper and lowercase okay as incorrect as well, I love the FF built in spell check).

CDarklock · Apr 25, 2008

Okay.

Okey if you're Canadian.

OK means Oklahoma, so Word doesn't complain about it.

Cathy C · Apr 25, 2008

According to our previous editor (who's several decades younger than me) the current publisher preference is OK.

It doesn't work for me, so I tend to change it back to Okay (or okay depending on position in the sentence.)

Back and forth, book after book. Thus far I'm winning.

Matera the Mad · Apr 25, 2008

Anyway, I think "ok" is Polish for something, and it looks like some kid who can't be bothered to capitalize an "I" wrote it.

Flay · Apr 25, 2008

Okay. It's unobtrusive, & okays or okayed looks better than OK's or OK'd.

It's a question that doesn't worry me--I tend to use all right (never alright) instead--but as long as you're consistent, oll will be korrect.

Flay · Apr 25, 2008

CDarklock said:
Okey if you're Canadian.

Eh?

veronie · Apr 26, 2008

I'm a newspaper copy editor, and our style is "OK." But, when I work on fiction or anything that is not newspaper, I prefer "okay."

donroc · Apr 26, 2008

okay always, except in my 17th century historical novel of course.

HeronW · Apr 26, 2008

'okay' unless it's the 1st word in a sentance then: 'Okay'. If your char is stretching out the word in answer, I might think of saying 'O...k...a...y...'.

Judg · Apr 26, 2008

CDarklock said:
Okey if you're Canadian.

To translate Flay's response: "Huh?"

Like what on earth are you talking about?

BardSkye · Apr 26, 2008

Lord Tunderin' Jaysus, we never says okay. We says sorry.

IceCreamEmpress · Apr 27, 2008

I like "okay".

The spellchecker on this board prefers OK.

If the publisher changes it, they change it. I've given up on worrying about that kind of thing.

Priene · Apr 27, 2008

I always use OK. Okay has an American feel.

TsukiRyoko · Apr 27, 2008

I use "okay" because "o.k." is an abbreviation for nothin in particular, and both "ok" and "o.k." look like slang to me. "Okay" feels the most correct to me.

melaniehoo · Apr 27, 2008

I use okay.

Perle_Rare · Apr 27, 2008

CDarklock said:
Okey if you're Canadian.

I'll chime in with, ummm... what's that about? Never seen that one...and Canadian I am, eh!

I've seen "okeydokey" used in dialog but that wasn't from a Canadian author.

StephanieFox · Apr 27, 2008

The AP Stylebook says, "OK" is correct. Any other use depends on the editor.

Judg · Apr 28, 2008

BardSkye, this is an English-language board. No Newfie allowed.

OK, ok or okay?

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