It took Read some twenty years of searching to nail the matter down, but thanks to his efforts we now know that OK first appeared in print in the Boston Morning Post on 23 March 1839, as a jocular abbreviation for 'Oll Korrect'. At
Bill Bryson's exploration into the origins of the term "OK" reveals the extensive effort by linguist Allen Read, who spent two decades researching its history. His inquiries culminated in the discovery that "OK" was first printed in the Boston Morning Post on March 23, 1839. This abbreviation was used humorously to mean 'Oll Korrect', showcasing the playful nature of language during that period.
Through Read's dedication, the mystery surrounding the term's emergence has been unraveled, contributing significantly to our understanding of American English. Bryson's book highlights how such expressions evolve and become ingrained in everyday language, reflecting cultural influences and communication trends over time.
