X

[IWMP]

I was messaging the choir boss (don't know what they call him). And I realised the last message he sent had, X at the end. And I know I do it with women but generally not with men. Anyway I looked in the choir group and a few people do it too. I wonder if it's just a British thing. Do you guys put X at the end of messages to others as a general greeting?

Interesting point. I feel like the x'es at the end is a modern thing though.

[drumdude]

It’s mostly a British and Australian thing in my experience.

The way I interpret it, as an American, is based off my relationship with an Australian. Depending on the context I think it can be a little flirty between men and women.

“I’m sorry your dad died. X” would be interpreted as a sincere condolence and platonic hug, but “Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. X” might be interpreted with some romantic intention.

But again I don’t live in either countries so my interpretation might be skewed.

[Physics Guy]

It used to be the convention that illiterate people would legally sign documents by personally writing an X, and having some literate witness write in the person's name and attest that the X was "his mark". (I'm afraid I expect that it was never "her mark" in those days.)

So perhaps you can think of it that way. Maybe a chatbot wrote the whole message, and the human just typed an X.

[IWMP]

It’s mostly a British and Australian thing in my experience.

The way I interpret it, as an American, is based off my relationship with an Australian. Depending on the context I think it can be a little flirty between men and women.

“I’m sorry your dad died. X” would be interpreted as a sincere condolence and platonic hug, but “Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. X” might be interpreted with some romantic intention.

But again I don’t live in either countries so my interpretation might be skewed.

I think that is probably a bit like how I see it.

[drumdude]

The Australian I knew explained that the number of X’s also mattered.

One X is kind of casual, but XX and XXX are very emphatic and definitely have a romantic meaning.

In America, it would be similar to ending a handwritten note with “XOXOXO” which means “hugs and kisses.”

[IWMP]

The Australian I knew explained that the number of X’s also mattered.

One X is kind of casual, but XX and XXX are very emphatic and definitely have a romantic meaning.

In America, it would be similar to ending a handwritten note with “XOXOXO” which means “hugs and kisses.”

I send 4 or 5 to my mum.

[drumdude]

The Australian I knew explained that the number of X’s also mattered.

One X is kind of casual, but XX and XXX are very emphatic and definitely have a romantic meaning.

In America, it would be similar to ending a handwritten note with “XOXOXO” which means “hugs and kisses.”

I send 4 or 5 to my mum.

How would you have reacted to 4 or 5 from the choir director?

I kind of wish Americans would get into the practice of using X's. Emojis are a little childish, but if I sent 5 X's to my mom she'd just be confused.

[High Spy]

The Australian I knew explained that the number of X’s also mattered.

One X is kind of casual, but XX and XXX are very emphatic and definitely have a romantic meaning.

In America, it would be similar to ending a handwritten note with “XOXOXO” which means “hugs and kisses.”

In that case, X is a VTH (Virtual Type Hug)

[IWMP]

I send 4 or 5 to my mum.

How would you have reacted to 4 or 5 from the choir director?

I kind of wish Americans would get into the practice of using X's. Emojis are a little childish, but if I sent 5 X's to my mom she'd just be confused.

That would be weird. It would be weird if my husband sent me that many lol. I think it goes by what you are used to. My mum sends me that many so I send them back. My husband barely sends any but he does send lots of GIFs. My friends and I send two usually. If someone sends them and suddenly stops, I will stop.

Also, usually in texts if I'm deep in conversation I don't send with every message, just when I'm wrapping up the conversation. But if there's only like 2 or 3 replies I'll send them with each reply if that's how they are.

I kind of think of it as with love (universal/platonic/caring/good thoughts) kind of thing.