| Date: |
Monday, January 1, 2001
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| Question/Topic: |
OK - origin
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| Answer/Pointer: |
Q. What does OK stand for?
A. This word for everything being all right goes back to two meanings. In 1839, some people
jokingly were writing "oll korrect" or "orl korrect," a silly way to write "all correct" according
to how those words sounded. Shortening that more led to the initials "OK."
OK became more popular when it was used in print in 1840 in a much diffferent way. It was
used in the presidential election as an abbreviation for the nickname "Old Kinderhook" of
President Martin Van Buren. Supporters began using "OK" as a slogan or phrase of support
for him.
Source: undocumented newspaper clipping.
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| Librarian: |
LCLCPL
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| Comments: |
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