# xxx's and ooo's

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxxs-and-ooos/289292>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 9, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxxs-and-ooos/289292 "2005-02-09T23:09:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jymbaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jymbaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jymbaz)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxxs-and-ooos/289292/1 "2005-02-09T23:09:57Z")

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My granddaughter asked me why, in a letter she received, the xxx’s and ooo’s at the bottom stood for hugs and kisses. I couldn’t find the answer. Anybody out there have any idea how or why this got started? Thanks…

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**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxxs-and-ooos/289292/2 "2005-02-09T23:11:22Z")

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This should be helpful:

[http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=450133](http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=450133)

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**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxxs-and-ooos/289292/3 "2005-02-09T23:13:31Z")

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I don’t know how I managed to mess up in posting that link, but I’ll try again.

[http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=450133](http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=450133)

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**Author:** ![Jymbaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jymbaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jymbaz)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxxs-and-ooos/289292/4 "2005-02-09T23:15:05Z")

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You’re awesome!

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**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxxs-and-ooos/289292/5 "2005-02-10T03:31:11Z")

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That link straightened me out. My fourth grade teacher explained it to us as the “X” being hugs, like it was arms crossing in a hug. The “O” was a kiss because it looked like lips.