What Does the “A” Mean in “A-OK”?
The legacies of NASA and the space program are great: the Mars Rover, Tang, freeze-dried ice cream … and popularizing the abbreviation “A-OK.” “OK” became a popular abbreviation in the 1840s thanks to the presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren, whose nickname was “Old Kinderhook.” “OK” was used on campaign
posters as shorthand, and it evolved into a synonym for “good.” The first printed appearance of “A-OK” seems to be in a 1952 advertisement for Midvac Steels, though its meaning at the time wasn’t explicitly clear. The ad promoted durable steel products that could withstand the intensity of any launch:...
