: If letters like "e," "s," and "t" (from "est.") are too close, the software might combine them into "sex."
Specifically, in newspaper classified ads from the 1970s and 80s, the phrase was often intended to be (estimated miles per gallon) or "six mpg," referring to the fuel efficiency of older vehicles. Due to the quality of the original print or the scanning software, characters were sometimes misread, leading to the nonsensical string "sex mpg" appearing in digital search results. Historical Context: The 1985 Car Ads
: Folds or stains on the original paper can distort characters during the scanning process.
