"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit…" If you've ever looked at a website mockup or a template, you've seen it. It looks like Latin, and it's used everywhere. What is it, and why?
Where lorem ipsum comes from
The text is a scrambled, altered version of a passage from De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, a philosophical work by the Roman statesman Cicero, written in 45 BC. Printers have used variations of it as dummy text since at least the 1500s. The words are mostly meaningless in this form — deliberately.
Why not just use real text?
Designers use placeholder text so that people judge the design, not the words.
- Real copy distracts. Stakeholders start editing the wording instead of evaluating layout, typography and spacing.
- It looks like real text. Lorem ipsum has a natural distribution of letters and word lengths, so a page filled with it looks like genuine content — unlike "text text text text".
- The copy isn't ready yet. Layouts often have to be designed before the writing exists.
When placeholder text is a bad idea
Lorem ipsum isn't always right. Designs tested only with tidy fake text can break when real content arrives: longer headlines that wrap onto three lines, unusually short paragraphs, or languages with different word lengths. Test with realistic content as soon as you have it, and replace every piece of lorem ipsum before you publish.
How to generate lorem ipsum
- Open the Lorem Ipsum Generator.
- Choose paragraphs, sentences or words, and how many.
- Decide whether to start with the classic "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…" opening.
- Click Generate, then copy the text or download it as a file.
Each click produces different combinations of words, and everything is generated in your browser.
Where you'll use it
- Website and app mockups.
- Print layouts, brochures and posters.
- Filling a content management system template while you build it.
- Testing how a font looks in blocks of text.
- Checking text overflow, wrapping and truncation.
FAQ
Is lorem ipsum real Latin? It's derived from real Latin but altered and scrambled, so it doesn't make sense as written.
Can I use it commercially? Yes. It has no meaningful content or copyright, but replace it with real text before publishing.
How much placeholder text should I use? Match the amount of real content you expect: the length of headlines, paragraphs and descriptions the design will actually hold.
Try it now
Generate some with the free Lorem Ipsum Generator.
Related reading
Measure your real copy with the Word Counter, or read How to Hit an Exact Word Count Every Time. Browse the full blog for more guides.