In your reply, state your nationality.
(This is very widespread in Britain, and apparently Americans find it weird, which amuses me. Forgive the inanity.)
I do, and I’m British. With exceptions: when I’m texting my boss, people I barely know, or when I think the message will lose its impact through ending it with an ‘Xx’.
Well, none of these poll answers really accurately portray my behavior.
I’m an American with a somewhat large group of British acquaintances - mainly from online communities based around British music and/or television. The British folks* always put an ‘x’ or two at the end of texts and emails and sign off instant messenger with one to several x’s. (Except one woman who spent her childhood in the US - she puts ‘XOXO’.) My American friends never, ever do this.
I don’t do it in texts but I do sign emails with “A x” sometimes, especially if it’s to a British friend.
*Americans: Yes, even the guys!
American; the only person who gets text kisses from me is my girlfriend.
What’s the source/origin of Brits doing this, anyway?
Can you explain this more?
If a British guy texts another British guy, he’ll put XX at the end? What about XXX? (An entirely different meaning in the US.)
What if I text my boss, and we’re both guys?
What if I text my woman friend who is married?
Nope, never seen this - American.
American. Never heard of it.
American. No clue about this practice.
American. I’d assume this was a teenage girl thing, and I wouldn’t have suspected you’d text just about anyone with that.
Disclaimer: I’m American so I may be wrong.
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Probably one ‘x’, possibly preceded by his first initial. (So ‘Brian’ would put ‘b x’.)
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Depends how casual vs. professional your relationship with your boss is.
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Not sure (as am not married), but a guy friend who has basically a common-law marriage with his girlfriend does it when he sends me a message.
(Yes XXX has the same meaning over here and I only ever do one, two or four.)
It’s fairly likely. Though may depend on things like class background and age.
Unlikely, unless maybe you work for a hippyish not-for-profit where you wear jeans every day.
Perfectly fine.
As for the origin - I have no idea.
Swede here. I would not put kisses in a text messege, not even to my girlfriend.
Australian. I don’t do it, and haven’t been on the receiving end either.
I marked “No - WTF” but now that I think of it, when I’ve been in UK chatrooms a lot of people put xx at the end of their sentences. It’s annoying because it makes no sense.
Canada, and only for my boyfriend. Possibly I would also do it with my mother, if she used texting. We do always make that ‘mwah-mwah’ kissy noise and say “I love you” when I get off the phone with her, so I don’t see why a text would be different, except for character limits.
Australian. Yep, do it with most of my close friends, and with some female work colleagues, depending on the message. x
British - yes, I usually add an X or two to the end of my texts.
I’m British and add kisses whenever there’s a possibility I might give the recipient a peck in real life. I’ve even had long-time male friends add one occasionally, which I take as either ‘Long-time-no-see’ affection, or an indication that I’m just quite kissable.
I think it adds an affectionate human touch to what can otherwise be a rather abrupt, curt message.
x.
British.
In texts to my wife? Sure. That’s it though.
British. Nearly all my friends do the first name initial + lower case x thing, so I get loads of texts from my housemate signed “B x”, for example. I don’t do it.