OK in Morse code

Each letter is separated by a gap three dot-units long, and each word by a gap of seven. That spacing is what keeps ----.- readable as “OK” instead of one run-on string — the most common reason hand-copied Morse decodes wrong. The decoder shows the difference if you paste it with and without the gaps.

The whole phrase is 23 dot-units long including the gaps. 5 WPM is a beginner's copying speed, 13 WPM was the old US licence requirement, and 20 WPM is comfortable conversational CW. Work out any other speed with the timing calculator, or hear it at your own pace on the practice trainer.

Radio operators rarely send “OK” as words. Morse traffic runs on short codes agreed between stations, so the same meaning takes a fraction of the time:

OK means “we agree”; R only confirms that the message was received.

Run the marks of the first word together, as happens on evenly spaced beads or an engraving, and OK becomes ----.-. That string can be split into valid Morse characters in 27 different ways, so a reader has no way to know which one you meant. The gaps are not decoration — they are the only thing that makes the message readable. See why most Morse jewelry is unreadable, or keep the spacing with the bracelet and tattoo maker.

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