what's it with the 'ok' people put at the start of a phrase?

Question

i see it a lot in q&a - but i don't really know any people who would actually talk like that.....
where does it come from?

Answer 1

I see that and also the word Now and also Look. I believe people will use this type of opening because they feel they have a serious, legitimate question or resolution to a problem and the listener should pay close attention.

Answer 2

when someone says ok at the beginning of a sentence its like saying look. Its just a starting point for a idea or explanation.
And Its usually said with exasperation.
I know this from dealing with people at work. Usually when trying to explain to a manager why something wont work.

Answer 3

Using "ok" is also quite common when people here *try* to speak English. Annoying too.

I guess I might be subconsciously guilty of doing that too, but in speech I usually just say "ah" or "eh" when starting a phrase and "mm" to express agreement.

Answer 4

Actually, alot of people talk like that, where are you from? Especially in a debate situation where they are starting to loose and they don't want to or they're trying to keep things neutral and it's not working. "Okay, so....." is a frequent first phrase in conversation in the US.

Answer 5

I'm not entirely sure but having done this myself a few times its usally when i need a sec to think how i'm gonna phrase something. Its like when people start a sentence with 'well'.

Answer 6

The "OK" expression comes from the US Civil War.
When at the end of day people who make the daily losses of soldiers reported:
0 Killed (That's read Zero Killed).
Then it was just abbreviated to 0K,
or as it is said 'ok'.

Answer 7

I would use it to convey an informal tone to the written conversation. When I email coworkers, but for social reasons, I sometimes use Yeah instead of yes in the body of the email, just to convey and informal tone to the email.

Answer 8

My procrastinating quote might fluctuate in line with no remember if it rather is at dwelling house or at artwork. dwelling house - "placed it on the calender" or " sounds like a stable theory, whilst are you going to try this?" artwork - " i'm going to place it on my to do record" the time-physique between your rates: "i'm going to get good on it" and "a variety of days" Is 30 seconds aside. It takes 30 seconds to confirm "no" and none to assert "on no account". something greater considerable is going to return up besides. good?

Answer 9

People use 'ok' in the beginning of a sentence means its like when they want to convey that
" they knew 'its odd to ask (particular question) but... still they
want to know' or 'they want to know others openion(about
that particular thing)'."

or sometimes 'to catch attention'.

Answer 10

It's a california thing, Uh OK!
I hate it. I also can't stand it when people "Double Talk" you say something then they say, " Right Right" "Yeah, Yeah", "Uh Huh, Uh Huh". I HEARD YOU THE FIRST FRICKIN TIME!!!!