Lorem Ipsum Generator
Need dummy text to fill a poster, web page or magazine layout before the real writing is ready? This free generator produces as much lorem ipsum as you need, counted in paragraphs, sentences or words.
Opens Unscramble Words 4U, our free word-puzzle site, in a new tab. Free, with no sign-up.
What it does
Lorem ipsum is filler text that looks like real writing, with words of varying lengths and normal punctuation, but cannot be read, so viewers look at the layout instead of reading. It is based on a passage from Cicero’s De finibus bonorum et malorum, written in 45 BC, which has been chopped up and altered until it stopped being correct Latin. The generator builds fresh sentences from the vocabulary of that classic passage.
You choose a number (from 1 up to 5,000) and a unit: paragraphs, sentences or words. Output can be plain text, with a blank line between paragraphs, or HTML with each paragraph wrapped in <p> tags, ready to drop into a web page. A tick box decides whether the text opens with the traditional “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet…” line, and a running count of paragraphs, words and characters appears under the box.
How to use it
- Open the generator in a new tab.
- Enter how many units you want in the “How many” box.
- Choose Paragraphs, Sentences or Words, and pick Plain text or HTML format.
- Leave the classic opening ticked, or untick it so each block starts at a random point (better if you need several blocks that don’t all look the same).
- Press Generate, then press Copy, or click inside the box to select everything.
More tips
- Choose Words when you need an exact length, because paragraphs vary (each has four to seven sentences).
- Before anything is printed or published, search the file for “lorem” to catch leftover placeholder text.
Ideas for the classroom and home learning
- KS2 (7–11)When pupils design a class newspaper front page, let them fill article columns with lorem ipsum so they can focus on headlines, images and layout first, then replace it with their own reports.
- KS3 (11–14)In computing, generate HTML output and have pupils paste it into a simple web page, then practise styling paragraphs with CSS.
- KS3 (11–14)In design and technology, use placeholder text on packaging mock-ups and discuss why designers test layouts with realistic text lengths.
- KS4 (14–16)In Latin or classics, compare the generated text with genuine Latin and ask students to spot which words are real, and why the scrambled version is meaningless.
Questions
Does lorem ipsum mean anything?
Not really. It is scrambled Latin. The word “lorem” is what is left of “dolorem” (pain) after the original was cut, and the jumbled order removes the sense.
Can I use it freely?
Yes. Cicero wrote the original more than two thousand years ago, and the generated text can be used however you wish.
How do I get HTML paragraphs?
Set Format to the HTML option and press Generate. Each paragraph comes wrapped in <p> and </p>.
Is it useful for testing other languages?
Only partly. It stays Latin-like whatever language you are designing for, so test with a real sample if you need long words or accented letters.
Opens Unscramble Words 4U, our free word-puzzle site, in a new tab. Free, with no sign-up.