To wonder whether it's mostly Brits that put "x" at the end of messages?

[Stamen196]

I was on a Facebook group where a text conversation had been screenshotted, and someone from the US was very confused about what "xxx" meant on the end of every reply. When explained, they said it was only really used in greetings cards over there. I genuinely thought it was a universal thing!

It just occurred to me that people outside the UK probably think British people (not all) just hand out kisses all the time for no reason. It's true for me personally, as I feel like my texts are way too formal without an "x"!). Bad habit I guess.

I can’t answer the question but I am definitely one of those people who can’t end a message without an X and it really annoys me Everyone I know does it (live in the U.K.) and the X is only absent if someone is in a huff

Definitely, I work/am friends with a ton of Americans (live abroad) and I have had to learn not to x as they were always perplexed ha. On fb groups, I can always spot the fellow Brit by our x.

Looking forward to coming back to the UK so I can x again!!

I lived in the US and it baffled people so I stopped doing it! Now that I am in the UK if someone I don’t know puts it on a message I notice it a lot.

When I was a teenager in the 80's, I used to have pen pals from all over the UK and Europe. Yes, the ones from the UK always put 'x' at the end of all their correspondence. I never saw it from the Europeans.
I found it endearing x

@britespark1 yeah it's almost a way of showing the text isn't narky isn't it? So you can just go "ok x" and everything is fine but if you go "ok" they might think you're mad at them.

Is it British? Neither my DP nor the majority of my closest friends are British and they all end messages with xxxs

I find it odd when strangers do it to me. Say I comment answering someone's question on a FB post, they'll reply with something like "Thanks, that's great! x" I save kisses for closer friends and family!

Where do they live Fast?

Interesting! I know quite a few people who have settled here in the UK and they all "x" - probably secretly find it weird but don't want to go against the grain! I definitely agree with the "leaving off the x in a huff" comment - it's petty but always gets the point across in the typical British passive aggressive fashion.

I send texts as part of my work and it would be really inappropriate to use x but it does also feel narky to not put it!

Also, funnily enough, I always text with an "x", but I don't in WhatsApp after the first message! Anyone else?!

@howfastistoofast That's why I was asking the question! I'm genuinely not sure...

I'm British and I don't do this. I'm also autistic and tend to be grammatically correct. A full stop is what ends my text, DD always tells me it's 'nippy' but to me it's just normal writing!

I never end texts with a "x" and sometimes people will ask if I've fallen out with them/don't like them because of it... no I just don't do it and have never felt the need lol

I have a French friend (she has lived in the UK for thirty plus years) who signs her texts bisous, which basically means x!

I saw a video of "things Americans do differently to Brits" or something, comparisons, and this was mentioned

I am not British. I do have Irish family and have come across it, but only in cards and the odd text, not at all often, only if you feel some special extra warm feelings at the time and it's the LAST text in a conversation like. The British habit (tarring everyone with the same brush here) of sticking inane x:es after everything does my head in. Disturbs my reading flow and seems tone deaf for the most part. Dislike them and find them more than a little silly, but accept that they are a cultural thing for Brits. Since they're so ubiquitous I don't even feel extra loved if I get one, so I think they are extremely pointless. Would say nothing "live" of course.

I find it strange. Would never do it at work it's so unprofessional. Only use it for close friends and family.

Yes I think it's a British thing! DH is Eastern European and never knew it was a thing until we met. Now he is a convert

We live in the US now and people definitely don't do it here.

I do it all the time and I’m british. I have friends from all over and closest ones will put xxx on the end but people I know but aren’t close to won’t put it on the end.
I find it funny that it could be a british thing as when we meet people we don’t greet people (generally) with a kiss whereas in a lot of other places a kiss is a sign of a greeting or when leaving

@TheTrollFairy Never thought of this!

I'm not British and when I moved to England I found this so baffling and thought everyone was suddenly flirting with me. I think it's ok between friends as I see it as quite friendly and affectionate, but getting kisses from a stranger messaging you about buying a used trike irritates me slightly. I then feel like a spoilsport for not returning the kisses. Haha.

I do occasionally do it when I'm texting my husband though because I like him a lot and he does it.

I think it’s really strange.

I’m British, and I don’t ‘x’, ever.

I find the whole x thing really quite odd full stop, but especially when it’s from someone I barely know, or worse, in a professional environment.

One of the things I find weird is when people write an "X" on a public forum to anonymous strangers, on a topic where no sympathy or emotion is required.

Example:

"yeh I use a shark hoover it's brilliant much better than any of the others I tried before and when you consider what you get for the price it's probably the best thing i ever bought xx"

I only do it if the other person does. If I'm initiating the texting I leave it off. The exception being if I'm messaging about a special occasion e.g. "Happy birthday! Xx"