okays

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "okays" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal way of saying "all right". You can use it to indicate agreement or acceptance. For example, "Are you okay with going to the store? Okay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This newspaper's style calls for the punctilious (and closest to the original) form: O.K. My own strong preference is the form that looks most simply like a word, whose pronunciation is clear, and which doesn't call for an apostrophe in extensions like "okayed" and "okays": Okay.

The New York Times - Books

The whole cancer aspect was done in a different angle – one that wasn't The Fault In Our Star's "feelings and infinities" and okays, nor was it The Probability of Miracles' bucket list before death angle – but more like how to deal with cancer itself that may not be fatal, and remission, family and first love, and running away versus staying and fighting and, most of all, courage.

The Guardian

Underneath the "HEADLESS BODY" headline on the front page of the Metro edition of Friday, April 15 , 1983 there were three other headlines: "SENATE OKAYS PREZ'S PICK FOR ARMS CONTROL," "Koch plans to hire 1,000 more cops," and "TAXING DAY FOR 1 MILLION IN N.Y".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

CH: "I hope you are okay, just to let you know I'm thinking of you lots and love you".

The Guardian

I said no, I wanted to see Chinua Achebe, if that was okay.

The Guardian - Books

Well okay, today we'll show that we really know how to hit them in the teeth," Biryukov said.

The Guardian

You're in this vacuum, and working with teenagers shakes you out of that because you realise your responsibility is to make sure they're okay.

The Guardian - Film

Okay it's all a bit touristy, but I didn't see too many people with their feet still.

The Guardian - Travel

You'd have surely got long odds on that Peter Gabriel tune being his last - okay then, second last - song, but it was really rather moving.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

When someone with your public profile tells others it's okay to mock people with disabilities, you cause great damage I have an autistic son.

The Guardian - Opinion

The worst thing is the constant revisions to make it read okay.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "okays" is grammatically correct as the plural of "okay", consider using more common alternatives like "all right" or "agreed" for clarity and wider acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "okays" in formal writing or professional communication. Opt for more formal alternatives such as "agreed" or "very well" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "okays" is as a plural noun. It represents multiple instances of agreement or approval, though Ludwig AI notes that it is less common than the singular form.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "okays" is the grammatically correct plural form of "okay", functioning as a noun to denote multiple instances of agreement or approval. However, Ludwig AI states its usage is relatively rare and primarily found in informal contexts or news media reflecting casual speech. For formal writing, consider opting for alternatives like "all right" or "agreed". While grammatically sound, its infrequent use might make your writing sound less polished in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

all right

This is a more common and versatile phrase used to express agreement or acceptance.

agreed

This alternative emphasizes a mutual understanding or consensus.

sounds good

This phrase is often used to indicate that a plan or suggestion is acceptable.

very well

A more formal way to express agreement, often implying a degree of acquiescence.

that's acceptable

This phrase clearly indicates that something meets the required standards.

affirmative

A formal and direct way to express agreement, often used in military or professional settings.

aye

An archaic or nautical term for 'yes' or 'agreed'.

roger that

This is an informal way of stating that a message has been received and understood. It is often used in radio communications or movies.

yep

A colloquial version of "yes".

indeed

A formal term for expressing agreement or emphasis.

FAQs

How to use "okays" in a sentence?

"Okays" is the plural form of "okay", so you can use it when referring to multiple instances of agreement or acceptance. For example: "The manager gave his okays to all the project proposals".

What can I say instead of "okays"?

You can use alternatives like "all right", "agreed", or "sounds good" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "okays" or "okay"?

"Okay" is generally used as an adjective, adverb, or interjection. "Okays" is the plural noun form, referring to multiple instances of "okay". It is less common in standard English.

Is "okays" formal or informal?

"Okays" is generally considered informal. In more formal contexts, it's better to use alternatives like "agreements" or rephrase the sentence to avoid the plural form of "okay".