OK, I've had enough

[DDark]

I've read a few articles about the word "okay" and how its use is personal style. I'm partial to spelling it out, but here's why I'm posting this: I'm currently reading a book where OK is used.

A lot.

It could also be a case of repeated word syndrome, but it has become a distraction. In fact, one page has OK written three times. I noticed as soon as I turned the page, of course, because two capital letters side by side stand out. While I'm trying to concentrate on the paragraph at hand, my peripheral sees the word like flashing neon signs.

Then it starts to become annoying, because it's creeping up on every other page. I might not have noticed it as much had it been written out.

So when you write, is it OK or okay?

Because suddenly, OK is not okay, and I had to turn my mouth and set down the book for a while.
 

[ChadWilliamson]

I always tend to go "OK," because spelling it out feels weirdly forced or just looks odd.

My two cents.

[Sean Patrick Fox]

I'm not sure what the right answer is, but I agree 100% that seeing "OK" can be jarring. Obviously it's only a little thing, but I'll be keeping an eye out to see if someone knows the correct way of spelling it.

[Valmore Daniels]

http://www.grammarist.com/spelling/ok-okay/

[DDark]

Yes, I've seen some articles indicate that OK is more informal, but I've also seen contradicting articles on the matter. My whole life, I've written it as OK, but on the rare occasion that I use it in writing, I prefer to spell it out. I suppose I never noticed how obnoxious OK is until I picked up this book I'm reading. I was curious if writers/editors here had a preference, or even gave it much thought. 

[Jan Strnad]

I agree that it's jarring. I use OK informally, but in a novel or short story, I'd always go with "okay."

[jackz4000]

You can use either. Chicago Manual of Style has no preference though in their manual they use OK twice and okay zero times. Personally I like Ok, not OK.

OK is not new slang since it's been found in documents in the 17th century.

[Chrystalla]

I tend to use "okay" in stories.

[Andrew Biss]

I always write it out. Even informally  To me, "OK" always has a touch the "thx" or "congrats" about it.

But each to his/her own. I'm okay if you're OK 

[DDark]

I always write it out. Even informally  To me, "OK" always has a touch the "thx" or "congrats" about it.

But each to his/her own. I'm okay if you're OK 

okie dokie 

[Donald Wells]

I used OK in my first few novels, but switched over to okay, for the last one and for the one I'm about to release. Now, I'm glad that I did. I've never heard anyone complain about using okay, so, I guess that it's OK. 

[Todd R. Tystad]

As a reader, I tend to process acronyms/all caps differently than actual words. Even though I know "OK" stands for "okay," I still attempt to process it as an acronym and it slows me down, if even for a fraction of a second.

As a writer, I once used "OK" repeatedly in a screenplay I was writing. The scriptwriting software didn't like it at all (thought it was a misspelled word). That broke me of the habit and I now use only "okay" for that reason and the reasoning as a reader above.

I think you as a writer should use what you're most comfortable with and what best serves your story. That's what's great about being a writer.

[DDark]

I used OK in my first few novels, but switched over to okay, for the last one and for the one I'm about to release. Now, I'm glad that I did. I've never heard anyone complain about using okay, so, I guess that it's OK. 

It could just be me. Sometime when we're reading a novel, there's something that unexpectedly drives us bat crazy. I never noticed the word in novels I've read before, so I'm assuming that if OK was used, it was in moderation. Otherwise, I'm assuming okay was the preferred word. But yes, it does become jarring. It looks odd in particular when it begins the sentence. OK may not be bad, if used infrequently. I think this particular character enjoys using the word...

much to my delight.

[EllenFisher]

I prefer "okay," because I agree that OK looks annoying after a while.

Side note: My dad had a huge collection of 78s when I was a kid, and one of the labels was "Okeh." Same word, different spelling. Apparently the word has gone through some permutations over the years!

[Donald Wells]

Is the character from Oklahoma (OK)?

[kookoo88]

In general, I spell it out.  It flows with the rest of the words better.

Oddly enough, I never use the word in my fantasy novels.  I use 'alright' instead.  'okay' just never seemed like it fit in a fantasy world.

On the other hand, I use 'nom' in my novels, but I have dragons, so it makes sense as dragons would obviously enjoy nomming.

[DDark]

Oddly enough, I never use the word in my fantasy novels.  I use 'alright' instead.  'okay' just never seemed like it fit in a fantasy world.
.

Do you mean "all right"? 


The last book I read used magnanimous 7+ times. It became a drinking game. I guess it's always something.

[JRainey]

I don't even use OK when I'm texting or chatting with someone; it just looks... unfinished to me, I guess. It interrupts the flow. I've always used okay, and it's a bit jarring if I see OK in fiction, but I'm not going to stop reading a book because of it.

Edited: Because I can't type.

[DDark]

I don't even use OK when I'm texting or chatting with someone; it just looks... unfinished to me, I guess. It interrupts the flow. I've always used okay, and it's a bit jarring if I see OK in fiction, but I'm not going to stop reading a book because of it.

Edited: Because I can't type.

I just had to put it on pause until I was okay again. 

[-alex-]

Hmm. I've personally always typed 'okay'. I prefer reading 'okay' rather than 'OK'.

I've mostly considered caps as either shouting, an acronym, or putting an emphasis on a the word.

[EllenFisher]

I use 'alright' instead.

"Alright" would annoy me worse than OK. Though the single-word spelling has become commonplace in less formal writing, I'm old enough that "alright" really grates on my nerves.

[David 'Half-Orc' Dalglish]

I'd go with okay over OK. Just personal preference. Same with all right over alright.

[Deanna Chase]

I'm an okay and all right kind of girl. OK would bug me. Alright I could live with.

[T.L. Haddix]

I trained as a medical transcriptionist, and OK was drilled out of me. Using any abbreviation in medical records can be dangerous. Better to spell it out.

Now, I'm not capable of using OK. I have to spell it out. And I agree with some folks that visually, OK just does not work for me.

Alrighty, then.

[DDark]

Kenny Loggins was wrong? My world has crumbled. 

http://www.amazon.com/Im-Alright-Theme-from-Caddyshack/dp/B00137KF68/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328464726&sr=8-1