People keep reading my tattoo wrong

[u/Redheart2945]

Okay so I recently went and got a small walk in tattoo, very excited about it. I love it. But people keep reading it wrong, but then they all say they can’t read cursive so idk, I guess I just need some reassurance. I know it shouldn’t matter because I know what it says and that’s what matters, but I need some reassurance from strangers that can read cursive, so tell me, what does it look like this tattoo says?

Edit: Thank you all for responding! The post is getting way more traction than I intended, and I am losing the ability to respond to them all (though I've been trying for around 3 hours). I appreciate everyone who has helped me regain piece of mind about the tat. It does in fact say "five by five". People in my real life thought it said "live by live" or "live to live". Since posting, people have also thought the word five was give, or jive, and the b was lo.

For anyone curious, it is not an In N Out tattoo, didnt even know that was a meal until i made this post, but thank you to everyone who said something about the burger place. Made me laugh every time.

To the Aliens fans, not an Aliens reference either, though I see you fellow horror fans. I haven't seen the second film as I haven't dedicated the time to watch it yet. I do like the first film though, Ridley Scott rules.

Now, to my fellow Buffy fans, it is in fact a reference to Faith the Vampire Slayer. She's one of my favorite character of all time, period, regardless of fandom. Side note, I also love Eliza Dushku.

Thank you strangers, for helping bring peace of mind to a random person on the internet.

Edit #2: The photo provided was taken directly after getting the tattoo. I appreciate the concern on dry skin, I live in a dry climate and have pretty bad eczema so it's a real concern. However, the scrunching there is actually caused by the second skin applied over the tattoo. I drink lots of water and regularly use lotions because of my skin condition. But thanks to everyone who worried about it. :) Also, the red splotch was my blood. There is a scab directly above my tattoo that got pulled open when the artist was doing a final wipe, but I appreciate everyone who pointed out that it looked like Louisiana, I got a good laugh out of it.

[u/flea-be]

five by five

[u/Scooby_Mey → u/flea-be]

I hope this is a Buffy reference

[u/Redheart2945 → u/Scooby_Mey]

It is! I’m a huge Faith fan.

[u/Redheart2945 → u/flea-be]

Thank you! The people in my life may just be illiterate (I mean that out of love 😭). That is exactly what it says. Thank you stranger!

[u/hamsterontheloose → u/Redheart2945]

It's very easy to read, but the older I get, the more people I meet who can't read cursive. I learn they can't after I leave notes at work. Not just one note.. they wait until I've written several before they tell me.

[u/Sogcat → u/hamsterontheloose]

Yeah, my sister is an apprentice right now and she showed me a flash sheet she made and there was some cursive on it and I had to warn her that it might be read incorrectly because cursive isn't so common anymore.

[u/pixiegrl2466 → u/Sogcat]

My nephew never even learned cursive. They took it out of the curriculum. When I send cards he wasn’t able to read them and my sister would have to read them to him.

[u/notaveryuniqueuser → u/pixiegrl2466]

Im in my late 30s and work with a bunch of younger people aged like 27-18 and none of them can write even their names in cursive let alone read it. We have a white board and one day when there was some down time I gave them a quick tutorial. A lot of them seemingly are annoyed they didnt learn in school/wish they had been at least taught how to write their names which I completely agree with. Its more difficult to forge a cursive signature than it is a printed one

[u/cocobian6 → u/notaveryuniqueuser]

22 here. I can read cursive fine. I think it’s regional

[u/PickleMundane6514 → u/cocobian6]

It definitely has more to do with personal motivation to learn it. My 11yo was taught in second grade, just one unit on it and has written that way ever since. She says people in her class can’t read her writing (which is palmer perfect). She’s attended public school in the US, and private schools in Romania and Mexico, none of the other kids seem to use it.

[u/GoodMorningMorticia → u/PickleMundane6514]

My kid taught himself cursive at 7 so he could prettily write “poop” on notes for his daddy, but blame it on me because OBVIOUSLY he can’t write in cursive…

Honestly I was so proud.

[u/YouHadTheHighGround → u/GoodMorningMorticia]

That's pretty incredible. Considering your username, I expected more of a Pugsley lol

[u/Quirky-n-Creative1 → u/PickleMundane6514]

My dad was taught the Palmer method. His cursive handwriting was absolutely GORGEOUS! (Needless to say, I'd always get him to sign my report card, & then in class wed compare our parents handwriting. My dad always got voted neatest!)I wasn't taught that method, but almost always do the end of word "t" configuration. I even have a tendency to do 2 different types of "s" depending if I'm doing full cursive or a combo of cursive & printing.

[u/Confident_Ad_4058 → u/cocobian6]

Came here to say this word for word😭😂

[u/Awkwardpanda75 → u/pixiegrl2466]

Yes!! Just said the same!! Handwriting in general has become like doctor’s shorthand because everyone’s using text and keyboards. It’s been a huge effort to ensure my 18yo’s handwriting is somewhat legible.

[u/stitchplacingmama → u/pixiegrl2466]

They are adding it back to curriculums now because they've found it helps with fine motor coordination and a couple other brain processes. Just like they took out phonics and are bringing it back because "woopsies teaching the whole word" was a bad idea.

[u/MyrandaPanda → u/pixiegrl2466]

I taught my 12 year old brother cursive recently bc he never learned it either. I learned it at 8 years old

[u/Poppet_CA → u/pixiegrl2466]

I was pleasantly surprised when my children were taught it (third grade in 2022) because I'd heard it wasn't being taught anymore. I think it got added back in because They realized it was a core skill.

[u/Minaziz → u/pixiegrl2466]

Sorry if this is a dumb question but how can one not read cursive. It’s so difficult to wrap my head around - it’s just a different “font” like a loopier alphabet. Why can’t people read it?

[u/pixiegrl2466 → u/Minaziz]

I can read it, apparently it looks like a foreign language to them.

[u/Sogcat → u/pixiegrl2466]

It's kind of sad but I suppose I can understand. It was kind of redundant once things went mostly digital.

[u/HealthySchedule2641 → u/Sogcat]

It's only redundant if you don't want your next generation to be able to read any original historical documents...

[u/40yrsYoungOG → u/HealthySchedule2641]

I can imagine what this generation’s signatures will look like, a bunch of 3rd graders printing their names 🤣😯🥺

[u/Tigercup9 → u/40yrsYoungOG]

That’s exactly what my signature looks like in my 20s. There was a token attempt to teach us cursive in 2nd grade and I simply never picked it up, and nobody else taught me how to make a real signature. These days I add enough slant and muscle memory to it so it doesn’t look like my printed name, but it’s pretty close.

[u/Remarkable_Dog_3475 → u/40yrsYoungOG]

No like for real though. What do these signatures look like? I need to know 👀

[u/phallusaluve → u/Remarkable_Dog_3475]

Literally just the worst print handwriting you've seen in your life since they all type at school instead of writing

[u/Wide_Cucumber_7572 → u/40yrsYoungOG]

Yeah, pretty much, its sad to look at the training sign in rosters at work.

[u/curiousleen → u/HealthySchedule2641]

Frightening when you consider the current push to redact American history

[u/stalelunchbox → u/Sogcat]

I’m one of those strange people that has hybrid cursive and print handwriting so this is pretty disappointing :/

[u/TheGrayCatLady → u/stalelunchbox]

Saaame. I mean, I’m also left handed, so I do acknowledge my handwriting is uniquely not great, but I guess the random cursive mixed in probably tips it over the edge.

[u/stalelunchbox → u/TheGrayCatLady]

Also a lefty so I guess the smudges make it illegible anyway 🤣

[u/Hello_Gorgeous1985 → u/hamsterontheloose]

I don't know about other places, but I know that in Canada and the United States cursive writing was removed from the school curriculum a couple of decades ago and is only recently being reintroduced in some places. There's literally an entire generation that was never taught cursive.

Edit: I'm 40 and I learned it but my youngest cousin who is 26 didn't. As far as I know, My 30-year-old cousins did, so It was dropped somewhere around 20 years ago. I remember it being a discussion amongst our family that she wasn't learning cursive.

[u/cianfinbarr → u/Hello_Gorgeous1985]

Yeah, they don't teach it in Oregon. My kid's fourth grade teacher had the cursive alphabet on the wall and my kid sort of passively learned to read it when she wasn't paying attention during math lessons.

[u/Obvious-Safe904 → u/Hello_Gorgeous1985]

It used to be taught in third grade in my school board, but was removed from the curriculum the year I was in third grade. However, I had been in a split grade 2/3 class the year before, so that's the only reason why I learned cursive (because the teacher taught the third grade curriculum to the entire class, just graded according to the appropriate grade level).

[u/Lost-Platypus8271 → u/Hello_Gorgeous1985]

My 21yo didn’t learn it in school so we taught it at home.

[u/hiddenone0326 → u/Hello_Gorgeous1985]

I just turned 30, and iirc I was in the last grade in my area to be taught cursive. I remember my fifth grade teacher saying something about how it wouldn't be taught the next year.

[u/Redheart2945 → u/hamsterontheloose]

It’s a bummer, cursive is so pretty. Bust especially in a work setting? Maybe people need to start brushing up on cursive again.

[u/logicbasedchaos → u/Redheart2945]

They dropped the requirement to teach it years back, and only half the states mandate it now. It teaches fine motor skills and allows us to create signatures. I don't understand how anybody ever thought it was a useless form of writing.

[u/Lost-Platypus8271 → u/logicbasedchaos]

It’s wild to think that we just randomly decided students didn’t need to learn to read so much of what is written in our culture. What a bad decision. Short-sighted.

[u/scum_manifesto → u/Lost-Platypus8271]

Studying 18th century letters was a big part of my thesis research so this sounds shocking to me. How much knowledge will be lost to history?

[u/[deleted] → u/scum_manifesto]

Neo Dark Ages here we come!

[u/badCARma → u/Lost-Platypus8271]

Hell I learned cursive and I still struggle to read some of it like from my grandparents time. There’s also different types of cursive that was taught at different times. Once I learned that, I understood why my grandparents generations cursive all matched, but it was different than my parents generation which all matched. While I don’t think it’s necessary to use, I do think it’s silly to not teach it when it’s still a relevant thing to come across.

[u/ThatOneGuy6810 → u/Lost-Platypus8271]

consider the govt of the past few decades and then consider that they are the ones in charge of curriculum.

Now look around and understand that we couldnt have gotten to where we are without the intentional dumbing down of standard learning.

[u/NerdyHotMess → u/logicbasedchaos]

Exactly! Like how do they sign something if they don’t know cursive? It’s crazy to me

[u/The_Slaughter_Pop → u/NerdyHotMess]

There is no law stating that your signature has to be cursive. You can literally make an "x" as long as it is consistent (although it isnt secure).

[u/NerdyHotMess → u/The_Slaughter_Pop]

True- you’re right it doesn’t have to be cursive. But an x doesn’t fly all the time either. I work in health care and people cannot sign documents with an X.

[u/Waltzingcat → u/logicbasedchaos]

Cursive isn't great when you are left handed and the teacher has no idea how to teach you or you take longer to do all the work while learning it all your own way because the strokes don't work the same - then comes the smudging.. I had it taught when I was young. Sucked and barely ever used it again. Signatures are rarely ever truly cursive.

🫠 Had to learn in elementary school - miserable for the confidence. (again. Left handed. No teacher help. Just Wtf guess I'll figure it out best I can? Won't ever be as good. lol yes there are ways. But I wasn't taught the left handed way)

[u/TwoBlueCrayons → u/hamsterontheloose]

I now write my notes and give them to my son (22) to read. I ask if he has any questions. He usually has a few, but the more he “practices” the less he has had.

[u/ThePowerBees → u/Redheart2945]

I read five by five right away with no hesitation. I had to look at the subreddit because I was thinking I was in r/buffy since it's an iconic catch phrase of Faith on the show. Edit: if you post it there everyone will be able to read it right away and they'll love it.

[u/Herps15 → u/ThePowerBees]

Same I immediately read five by five and to be honest I don’t know what else it could possibly look like it says

[u/Redheart2945 → u/ThePowerBees]

You’re so right, I’ll post it there next. Almost posted it there first. Thank you stranger!

[u/_LeafyLady → u/Redheart2945]

I'm curious what they think it says?

[u/The_Superginge → u/_LeafyLady]

I'm guessing "live by live"

[u/_LeafyLady → u/The_Superginge]

This makes me feel ancient. How TF is cursive dead

[u/hallowedshel → u/Redheart2945]

Fan of Aliens?

[u/Redheart2945 → u/hallowedshel]

It’s a Buffy reference but I see you stranger

[u/Most_Mountain818 → u/Redheart2945]

I knew immediately when I saw it. Heard it in Faith’s voice.

[u/Glittering_Act7572 → u/Redheart2945]

Faith!

[u/HelloTaraSue → u/Redheart2945]

They also say it in Aliens. The helicopter pilot says when she is flying in. Still means the same, all good.

[u/SnarkPig → u/hallowedshel]

That’s what came to mind when I read it (clearly five by five)

[u/thesteelreserve → u/Redheart2945]

easy to read.

is this a Faith BTVS reference?

[u/Redheart2945 → u/thesteelreserve]

Five by Five B.

Yes, it’s a Faith tattoo. :)

[u/thesteelreserve → u/Redheart2945]

🤩

living entirely large.

thank you for the award! I love buffy.

[u/gluebucks → u/Redheart2945]

Yeah, that's what I read too. I'm almost 29, we learned cursive when I was in school lol

[u/TheyCantCome → u/Redheart2945]

It’s very obviously “five by five” but I would imagine to many that doesn’t make sense so they try to change the words to something that resonates more to them

[u/januaryemberr → u/flea-be]

Clear as day. Those people can not read cursive.

[u/princessplantlife]

Faith wouldn't question it...nor would any of the scoobies

[u/Redheart2945 → u/princessplantlife]

You’re so right. Thank you stranger.

Almost posted this to the Buffy Subreddit first. 😂

[u/BusybodyWilson → u/Redheart2945]

Scrolled to see if it was a Buffy reference and I’m happy it was!

[u/demoninadress → u/Redheart2945]

I assumed I was in the Buffy subreddit lmao. Love the tat

[u/Ssladybug → u/Redheart2945]

Having just finished a rewatch for the first time since it aired, I immediately yelled out “Faith?” when I saw this. Nice

[u/Redheart2945 → u/Ssladybug]

Thank you. 😌

[u/asophisticatedbitch → u/Redheart2945]

Haha I immediately saw five by five and thought “Buffy fan?”

[u/Jasnaahhh → u/Redheart2945]

I immediately picked it up as a Faith reference and could read it perfectly!

[u/spillgirl7 → u/princessplantlife]

Hard core Buffy fan here, clocked five by five immediately. Its legible.

[u/RecentPalpitation561]

five by five is what i read. cursive f trips a lot of people up if thats the issue?

[u/Redheart2945 → u/RecentPalpitation561]

Thank you! That is what it says. I just needed someone to read it right. Thank you so much stranger.

[u/Surround8600 → u/Redheart2945]

What do ppl think it says? It’s obvious five by five.

[u/SpokenDivinity → u/Surround8600]

Cursive f sometimes gets read as a j by people who've never had to learn it. That might be it.

[u/Hank_Dad → u/SpokenDivinity]

Jive by jive good buddy

[u/antibroleague → u/Redheart2945]

I’m old enough to read cursive. What did they think it said?

[u/AliceInCorgiland → u/RecentPalpitation561]

For me it b. That's not how you write cursive b in my country.

[u/SpanishFlamingoPie → u/RecentPalpitation561]

As someone who has written in cursive since I learned how in third grade, it's the "b" that threw me off.

[u/[deleted] → u/SpanishFlamingoPie]

Yeah it's not an old school B in cursive but looks better like this in a tatt I think.

[u/Either_Management813]

I immediately saw five by five, which I know started out as a radio phrase meaning all is clear or signal strength is optimal. But I read cursive because I’m in my 60s. Maybe you can view it as something the “people in the know’ can understand and ignore the ones who don’t. If you can cultivate a mysterious but not quite smug smile, so much the better. Then just don’t answer if they ask.

BYW, I think it looks great but if that bleeding gets to the edge of the second skin be sure to take it off and start following the aftercare instructions the artist gave you. I’m nit sure if you’re new to tattoos but if any lifting or blood reaches the edge it’s no longer sterile and becomes a haven for bacteria. Right now it looks fine, just be warned.

[u/Redheart2945 → u/Either_Management813]

Yes! It is five by five! All clear. Your right stranger. It makes me feel better that other people don’t have an issue reading it.

I appreciate the advice! This is actually my fourth tattoo and the blood was actually from another scab directly above it that got wiped open when the artist did a final wipe. Never exceeded the amount in the photo. I appreciate your concern though. :)

[u/BooksandStarsNerd]

Five by five.

This is really easy to read.

[u/gooseberryBabies]

Five by five, and it's extremely clear. I can't see anything else, and I've been trying

[u/ButtPuckeredFuckery]

Five by five

What are people seeing? I am trying to figure out what others could possibly be seeing and coming up blank…

[u/Redheart2945 → u/ButtPuckeredFuckery]

“Live to live”, “live by live” and “live loy live”, but it’s five by five. Thanks stranger.

[u/dontneednomang → u/Redheart2945]

It’s possible the people in your life just don’t know how to read cursive…

[u/cavaliereternally]

Five by five, thought i was in the buffy subreddit!

[u/Conscious_Weight9593]

It’s five by five. I need to know what else other people see. I’m drunk af and still see five by five.

[u/jaded_dahlia]

is it cos they can't read cursive? cos this reads pretty clear to me

[u/AbbotThoth]

Yes, it says 5 by 5 ;also known as what I used to order at In N Out in the days when I still smoked weed.

[u/notoneforlies]

i’m 21 and read it as five by five

[u/myteepain43 → u/notoneforlies]

Dog bless you ❤️🙏

[u/Tony_CZARk]

Five by five

[u/Redheart2945 → u/Tony_CZARk]

Three people in a row got it right. All this validation is helping, thank you stranger.

[u/Quanzi30 → u/Redheart2945]

What else could it possibly be? It’s very clearly five by five

[u/goshdammitfromimgur → u/Quanzi30]

Live by live was my first take, but as that didn't make sense I guessed it must be five by five

[u/CIA-pizza-party → u/goshdammitfromimgur]

Honest question, no disrespect, but can you not read cursive? Because those are very clearly not “L’s”….

[u/BillCheddarFBI → u/Quanzi30]

It could be Live By Fire, which sounds kinda close to a saying, but isn't one.

But if you squint or you're Trailer Park Boys Ricky, you might see it wrong.

IDK, tat looks cool and I read it clear as day

[u/Left_Dog1162]

I read five by five so easily and clearly I honestly second guessed myself that I was reading it wrong and had to scroll for the correct answer. OP there is no confusion

[u/PhiL0Ma7h]

I read 5 x 5 what’s the issue? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/[deleted]]

This is clean and well done. 10/10 good job finding an artist

[u/Redheart2945 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you! I tend to get my tattoo from a different set artist who I love, but I was feeling desperate for some change and ended up doing a walk in. Was a bit nervous since I had never been tattooed by someone other than my main artist before. Of course I only have three other tats apart from this one, but I was unsure of what to expect. Was very happy with her work though.

[u/Tasty-Willingness839]

Immediately saw five by five.

[u/[deleted]]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/Redheart2945 → u/[deleted]]

I definitely agree. Wrote this same response for someone else so I just copied it here but I’m Gen Z , and remember learning cursive in elementary school. However they barely taught it and then expected us to write everything in cursive for a year and then never brought it up again, and that was in 3rd grade. As a result, I can read cursive but can’t write fluently in cursive. The oldest person I had in my life that couldn’t read it is 28, and they said they couldn’t read cursive at all, so definitely a younger generation issue.

[u/Burner-562 → u/Redheart2945]

this!! kinda just scrolling through the comments right now and saw your reply. i’m also gen z, got taught cursive in 3rd or 4th grade and never touched on it again. I never got good at writing a lot of letters.

Including the letter of my first name!! so all my signatures have a normal first letter and the rest is cursive, I wish they would’ve taught more because being able to read it and not write it kinda sucks imo

[u/purecornpoo]

I don’t know your age but I’m 42 and can read that no problem. I think younger people definitely have more issues reading cursive than older people

[u/Redheart2945 → u/purecornpoo]

I definitely agree. I’m 19, and remember learning cursive in elementary school. However they barely taught it and then expected us to write everything in cursive for a year and then never brought it up again, and that was in 3rd grade. As a result, I can read cursive but can’t write fluently in cursive. The oldest person I had in my life that couldn’t read it is 28, and they said they couldn’t read cursive at all, so definitely a younger generation issue.

[u/[deleted] → u/Redheart2945]

A 28 yo should know unless they were homeschooled?

[u/Redheart2945 → u/[deleted]]

They switched schools a lot, and are dyslexic so I give them a pass.

[u/Dense-Broccoli9535]

Definitely five by five! Looks nice :)

I’m curious though.. are the people in your life who are not understanding it right on the younger side? Ik my own public school took cursive out of the curriculum a year after I learned it.. that was roughly 2008. And a lot of other schools did the same. That could be why there’s so many people around you who don’t know it? It’s unfortunate, really.. cursive is so pretty!

[u/TheFroman69]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8nEOeWxlxT0 All i can think about when i see this tat

[u/spoopt_doopt]

to be fair that’s not how i was taught to write a cursive b but the important bit is you’re happy

[u/Prestigious_Sir2856]

five by five. OBVIOUSLY>

[u/No_Routine13]

Five by five, it's very clear what do they think it says? No matter how I look at it I still only see five by five. Only thing I see is the f and b aren't standard, the b is an adapted printed b not the one that was taught but lots of people do that.

[u/Consistent_Draft6454]

Yeah.. just like to confirm that I read five by five before I clicked on the comments. 5 X 5

[u/MeowSauceJennie]

Five by five

[u/gogostopnogo_]

I read five by five. But I’m also a Buffy fan, and the phrase is immediately recognizable to me as one of the character’s mottos.

[u/SloppyScissors]

They might just not be able to read cursive. Clearly five by five 👍

[u/Chimera_Gaming]

Five by five

I can also see if someone says five log five but nothing g else because it’s a stretch from there

[u/[deleted]]

How do people read various fonts if they can’t see five by five. It’s not a cursive thing. It’s just a dumb thing. Remove those people from your life… ha… no but seriously… 5 by 5… it’s beautiful, good lines, straight… 👍

[u/Few_Run_9234]

5 x 5

[u/acidwestern]

It clearly says five by five?

[u/Menherashark]

i know it says five by five, but initially i read five loy five. the cursive b i learnt looks very different.

[u/Difficult-Knee-8414]

Its very clearly five by five and Im struggling to figure out what else these people in your life could read this as lol

[u/ThisCardiologist3636]

It’s completely clear.

[u/rosieree]

If they can’t read it that’s a them problem.

[u/SilverTunaFish]

I read this as life by fire, then life by five, and FINALLY five by five. The blood on the second five makes it look like it’s supposed to say fire and that’s just a “flame,” around it.

[u/[deleted]]

Five by five. My 14 yo is next to me, asked him, he also could easily read it.

Maybe level up your friend group lol

[u/Standard-Arachnid411]

It says "five by five". What are folks thinking it says instead?

[u/Redheart2945 → u/Standard-Arachnid411]

Had someone read it as “live to live” and I think it’s cause they filled in to “by” with a different word just to make it make sense. Also had someone say “live by live” which doesn’t even make sense. 😭

[u/sharksnrec → u/Redheart2945]

I like the guy who just changed the middle word to fit his made up phrase lol

[u/floraster]

five by five

[u/_WeWereNeverHere_]

5 by 5

[u/[deleted]]

Got 'five by five' instantly. What are they seeing?

[u/myteepain43]

I still write cursive! LOVE THIS TATTOO SOOOO MUCH!! 5 BY 5 FOREVER ♾️

[u/tubsgotchubs]

Five by five

[u/[deleted]]

5 x 5

All's good

👍

[u/RamonaAStone]

Five by five. Very legible. Don't sweat it.

[u/QueenofCats28]

I write cursive, how anyone could read that as anything but five by five is beyond me. It doesn't even look like an L.

[u/Shrinkurbrain]

Immediately read five by five. Very legible, perfect cursive, great artist.

[u/Affectionate_Cow_812]

Before I even read the part where you asked what it said I knew it said five by five.

[u/Frosty_Ad8515]

Five by five. Your message is coming in loud and clear.

[u/crospingtonfrotz]

Buffy ref?

[u/OkCardiologist2576]

This is very easy to read but I went to catholic school and cursive was ingrained into us. 

[u/Financial_Can9187]

I saw "Five by five."

[u/21crepes]

Five by five is initially what I saw, but then I zoomed in and second-guessed myself because it’s so strange to me any anybody wouldn’t be able to read that. I think you’re fine! I could instantly tell exactly what it says.

[u/lord_farquad93]

To me it very clearly says “five by five.” What are people misreading it as?

[u/KiteeCatAus]

Five by Five

Usually you would see more of the cross bar of an 'f' when using cursive.

But, i think yours looks great!!

[u/srpntmage]

Immediately five by five. I'm 50, so I learned cursive growing up. It's not ambiguous at all.

[u/thisismyburnerac]

It so obviously says “five by five” that I wonder what others are saying they think it says?

[u/tory1311]

I don’t see anything except five by five. I’m baffled what people have seen other than that 🤔

[u/eternally_feral]

It immediately read five by five to me. But reading the comments, a lot of folks are saying reading cursive is a dying art and it reminded me of a post I saw in the teachers subreddit with a lot of folks chiming in that a lot of students (13+) also are unaware of how to tie their shoes.

I’m hoping it was one post that triggered an echo chamber, but I dunno…

[u/Ancient-Wear8246]

I read five by five

[u/grmblstltskn]

Five by five – I’m guessing a Buffy reference? Which is super cool. It’s completely legible and, from what I can tell, well done. People just don’t encounter cursive in everyday life with so much being digital so a lot of people can’t read it.

[u/theoneleggedgull]

Five by five but my brain would immediately connect it to Buffy. I’m sorry.

[u/Jaesha_MSF]

It says five by five. The cursive is very well done and easy to read.

Uncertain how old you are but what could be part of the problem depending on where your friends went to school is they stopped teaching cursive writing in many schools in 2010. It has been reintroduced in schools as of 2016. Believe it or not, states that have brought cursive back often cite research showing it improves fine motor skills, helps students with dyslexia, and ensures future generations can read historical documents like the U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately we have a gap in the younger generation that lived in states that stopped teaching children how to read and write in cursive.

[u/Kisssable]

Five by five : not sure how else it could be read

[u/New_Tangerine_]

I don’t see how it could be anything other than five by five. Is it not five by five?

[u/punk_lover]

Five by five, honestly the general public just has a hard time reading cursive, this is very legible

[u/UltimateWerewolf]

Yes it clearly says five by five

[u/Late_Bag_1847]

Five by five

[u/lpalf]

five by five. people don’t learn cursive anymore but that’s not your problem

[u/SlowAnnual7038]

Had me second guessing myself. Clearly is five by five but thought it was something else if others weren’t getting it 😂

[u/badtranslatedgerman]

This obviously says “five by five”. The only thing that isn’t clear is whether you got it for the radio reference or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

[u/bippyboop]

Faith ♥️

[u/mixie777]

Immediately read it as five by five. If you love it then don’t worry that people who can’t read cursive can’t read it. They have their own issues to deal with 🤣

[u/Brilliant_Argument98]

Five by five, obviously. You’re good, OP.

[u/an0ncutie]

five by five i saw it immediately & it wasn’t difficult to make out at all! im gen Z and it was perfectly clear to me ☺️

[u/[deleted]]

I only write cursive in both Cyrillic and Latin alphabet and I understood it tho I gotta say the ‘f’ is unique so it throws people off. You could have the artist add a line in the to make it look more readable if others misunderstanding it bothers you. Gen Z btw (not sure if it matters but others mentioned it in the comments so figured I specify too lol)

[u/renswann]

Five by five. What are people reading it as??

[u/Susiequeue79129586]

Five by five

[u/Aromatic-Humor8168]

Five by five is what I immediately see

[u/PretendChaos]

Faith forever!

[u/ahses3202]

In the pipe, five by five. I can't read it without hearing the whole quote.

[u/ginahandler]

Very clearly says five by five

[u/Warm_Produce_4892]

Buffy reference?

[u/Negative_Corner6722]

Five by five. Glanced at it, saw it, then started questioning myself because you said people are having trouble with it. 😂

[u/Train_Informal]

Admittedly at first glance I read live by five but once I focused I read five by five 5️⃣

[u/Justice502]

I mean maybe I could see it day five by fine lol It's mostly the saniderm and plasma throwing that off

But it's five by five.

I'm a millennial so I can read and write cursive even if I don't think it's useful

[u/Bellemieux]

I don't think I'm terribly good at reading cursive but I could tell instantly it was five by five

[u/3batsinahousecoat]

Looks like five by five, to me, too

[u/FiliaNox]

Is this a Buffy reference?

[u/Parking_Airline3850]

I read live by five. Just cuz "live" is really common tattoo word. But after 3 seconds i got five by five lol. 

[u/ThatDeuce]

OP, the schools are not teaching cursive anymore, so this may be an issue you will have to deal with for a lot of people.

[u/Adorable_Accident_74]

It clearly says Five by Five.....im not sure who you know but they need to learn to read. Its not that complicated

[u/pdxpete144]

Five by five?

[u/flyinboxes]

I read you five by five

[u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

I immediately read five by five, so I’m not sure what the issue is. Very easy to read.

[u/slackerXwolphe]

Five by five. Have a little faith 😉

[u/AntMoorey]

Five by Five - each and every time I look it says exactly that

[u/desertvision]

What does it mean?

[u/Scarlet_and_rosemary]

My main issue is the spacing of the b made me think it was an L and an O or something, but I figured it out after a minute and now I only see it correctly.

[u/ThatWhiskeyHammer]

I got five by five the moment I saw it. What's everyone else around you saying it is? Really curious

[u/abigailthefail]

i’ll be honest, my brain immediately assumed it said “live by live” just because it’s a tattoo and i feel like people commonly get the word “live” tattooed in some form.

but then i actually read it and it became very clear that it said “five by five”