Lorem Ipsum Generator
- 19
- Words
- 123
- Characters
- 1
- Paragraphs
The lorem ipsum generator produces placeholder text by the paragraph, the sentence or the exact word, with the option to open on the traditional "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet". Word and character counts are shown, since hitting a length is usually the actual requirement.
How it works
The text is drawn from the standard lorem ipsum vocabulary, which comes from a corrupted passage of Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, written in 45 BC. Sentences vary between eight and twenty words and paragraphs between three and five sentences, so the block has a natural rhythm rather than a mechanical one.
- Paragraphs are separated by a blank line, which is what most editors expect on paste.
- The word mode produces exactly the count you ask for, which is what you need when testing a character limit.
- Starting with the traditional opening is optional. Turn it off when you want the placeholder to be less recognisable.
Why nonsense Latin rather than English: real text is read rather than looked at, and a reviewer who reads the placeholder starts commenting on the copy instead of the layout. Text that carries no meaning keeps attention on the design, which is the point of a mockup.
Examples
Three paragraphs
Count
3 paragraphs
Result
Roughly 120 to 180 words
Each paragraph is three to five sentences of eight to twenty words, so the total varies as real prose does.
An exact word count
Count
50 words
Result
Exactly 50 words
The right mode for testing a truncation limit or a field that counts words rather than characters.
Without the traditional opening
Option
Start with Lorem ipsum, off
Result
Begins on a random word
Useful when a client might recognise the stock opening and take the mockup less seriously.
Frequently asked questions
Where does lorem ipsum come from?
A garbled extract from Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, written in 45 BC. A printer in the 1500s scrambled a passage to make a type specimen, and the corrupted text has been the standard placeholder ever since. "Lorem" is not a Latin word. It is the tail of "dolorem".
Why not use English placeholder text?
Because people read English. A reviewer looking at a mockup filled with real sentences starts editing the copy instead of assessing the layout. Meaningless text keeps attention where a mockup needs it.
Does placeholder text left on a live page hurt anything?
Yes, and it happens constantly. Lorem ipsum on a published page is thin content that says nothing about the page, and it is instantly recognisable to a visitor as an unfinished site. Search for "lorem ipsum" on your own domain before launch.
Can I generate an exact character count?
Not directly. The word mode is the closest, since word lengths vary. Generate more than you need and trim, and watch the character counter as you go.