How to make lorem ipsum text
- Choose paragraphs, sentences or words, and how many you need.
- Tick the option to start with "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet" if you want the familiar opening.
- Choose plain text, or HTML with each paragraph in <p> tags.
- Copy the text into your layout.
Where lorem ipsum comes from
Lorem ipsum is scrambled Latin taken from De finibus bonorum et malorum (On the Ends of Good and Evil), written by Cicero in 45 BC. The original passage begins 'Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet', roughly 'nor is there anyone who loves pain itself'. The word 'lorem' is not real Latin. It is the tail end of 'dolorem' after the start of the word was cut off.
You will often read that typesetters have used it since the 1500s. There is no firm evidence for that. What is documented is its spread in the 1960s on Letraset dry transfer sheets, which designers used for mock ups, followed by desktop publishing software in the 1980s. Since then it has become the standard filler text in design and web work.
Why designers use it
Placeholder text shows how a layout handles real amounts of words: line lengths, paragraph spacing, how a heading wraps, and where a page breaks. Because lorem ipsum looks like text but cannot be read, people reviewing a design look at the layout instead of correcting the wording.
When to use real copy instead
Lorem ipsum is a stand in, and it can hide problems. Real content is rarely as tidy as filler text, so switch to real or realistic copy as soon as you can, particularly for:
- Headings and buttons, where real wording is often much longer or shorter
- Product names, prices and addresses, which have their own lengths and formats
- Forms and error messages, where the words are the design
- Anything shown to a client, who may focus on the gibberish
Also check before going live that no placeholder text has been left behind. Search the site for 'lorem' and 'ipsum', because a stray paragraph on a live page looks careless and adds nothing for visitors or search engines.
Questions people ask
What does lorem ipsum mean?
Nothing as written. It is jumbled Latin from a work by Cicero, with words cut and rearranged, so it does not translate into a sentence.
Can I get it with HTML tags?
Yes. Choose the HTML option and each paragraph is wrapped in <p> tags, ready to paste into a page or template.
Do I have to start with Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet?
No. It is an option. Leave it off if you want the text to look less obviously like filler.
Is lorem ipsum bad for SEO?
Placeholder text on a live page gives search engines nothing useful and makes a page look unfinished. Replace it before you publish.