New Books in Popular Culture Michelle McSweeney, "OK" (Bloomsbury, 2023)
Nov 17, 2025
Michelle McSweeney, a linguist and data scientist, dives into the fascinating story of the word 'OK.' She traces its origins from a playful 1839 newspaper abbreviation to a global staple of communication. The discussion highlights how technological advancements—from telegraphs to television—shaped the word's evolution. McSweeney also explores the intersection of language and identity in the digital age, revealing how 'OK' became more than just a word, including its controversial uses today. Her insights shed light on our ongoing relationship with language and technology.
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Birth In The Penny Press
- OK originated as a playful printed acronym “all correct” in an 1839 Boston newspaper and spread through readers who enjoyed linguistic play.
- Michelle McSweeney argues this moment showed how democratized print enabled creative language change.
Van Buren's 'Old Kinderhook' Campaign
- The Democratic Party leveraged OK during the 1840 presidential campaign with 'Old Kinderhook' clubs and pins that popularized the term nationwide.
- The election's media intensity turned a niche joke into a mass-recognized token of identity.
Publishers Policed Language
- Publishers excluded OK from books to guard 'highbrow' language and preserve cultural authority amid penny press democratization.
- Louisa May Alcott briefly included O-K then had it edited out, illustrating elite gatekeeping.
