Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained

07.04.2025 Printing Terms Time to read: 4min
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“Lorem Ipsum” is one of the most recognized printing terms in design, publishing, and layout development. This dummy text has been used for centuries to simulate content without distracting from the visual structure. Whether you’re preparing a print brochure or a digital mockup, Lorem Ipsum helps you focus purely on layout and formatting. In this article, you’ll learn what it is, how it’s used, and why it still matters today.

Definition: Lorem Ipsum

“Lorem Ipsum” is a scrambled passage of Latin text used as dummy content in the printing and design industries. Its purpose is to fill layouts with neutral, non-distracting text that mimics the look and flow of real language.

The term originates from a section of Cicero’s philosophical work De finibus bonorum et malorum (“The Extremes of Good and Evil”) written in 45 BC. Over time, printers began using this pseudo-Latin text to create visual samples without relying on meaningful content.

Example

“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.”

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Use in printing & design

Lorem Ipsum helps focus on the layout without the distraction of real content.

Printing
Design
  • Helps test alignment, spacing, and other terms like kerning or leading
  • Used in print previews for brochures, flyers, and book mockups
  • Ensure the final layout works visually before real text is available
  • Keeps the viewer focused on layout and typography instead of reading content
  • Popular in web design, UI wireframes, app prototypes, and landing pages
  • Allows consistent formatting across sections with variable content length

Note:

  • Kerning is the space between letters.
  • Leading is the space between lines.

Just random text?

Although it looks like gibberish at first glance, Lorem Ipsum is not completely random. It’s structured as pseudo-Latin, a scrambled version of real Latin phrases taken from classical texts, mainly by Cicero. While the grammar doesn’t follow proper Latin rules, many words are authentic. A common misconception is that it’s entirely meaningless. Still, in reality, it has historical roots and loosely resembles natural sentence structure, making it ideal for testing visual flow in print layouts.

Common variants & generators

Lorem Ipsum comes in many lengths and styles. Short versions are often used for headlines or small layout elements, while longer passages help test full-page designs or text-heavy documents.

Numerous online generators create standard or customized Lorem Ipsum text with just a few clicks. Some tools even offer themed versions, like:

  • Corporate Ipsum
  • Hipster Ipsum
  • Coffee Ipsum
  • Bacon Ipsum
  • Cat Ipsum

Example: Paragraph of Cat Ipsum

“Climb into cupboard and lick the salt off leave fur on owners clothes stretch, so find empty spot in cupboard and sleep all day. Somehow manage to catch a bird but have no idea what to do next, so play with it until it dies of shock scratch at the door then walk away and meow to be let out walk on a keyboard yet sees bird in air, breaks into cage and attacks creature. Open the door, let me out, let me out, let me-out, let me-aow, let meaow, meaow!”

This is supposed to add a fun twist while still serving the same layout-testing purpose. These alternatives can make mockups more engaging without using final content.

Here is the official Lorem Ipsum generator.

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Alternatives

While Lorem Ipsum is widely used, there are cases where real or more meaningful content is more appropriate.

Real text is preferable when

  • You’re testing headlines, CTAs, or brand messaging
  • Stakeholders need to review the tone and flow of the design
  • You want to simulate user interaction in forms, menus, or buttons

Smarter alternatives to Lorem Ipsum

  • Plain characters like “XXXX” or “0000”
  • Content from past projects for realistic mockups
  • Descriptive placeholders, e.g., “Product Title Here”
  • Fun alternatives like “Bacon Ipsum” for themed designs

When Lorem Ipsum does more harm than good

  • Publishing Lorem Ipsum online can hurt your SEO ranking
  • Screen readers may struggle to interpret the pseudo-Latin text
  • Placeholder text may confuse users if accidentally left in live environments

Note: Replace dummy content with real or descriptive text before publishing or testing with users.

FAQs

It doesn’t have a real translation. Lorem Ipsum is simply a scrambled section of a Latin text used as placeholder content.

Yes and no. It’s based on real Latin from a work by Cicero, but the words have been rearranged and altered, so the grammar and meaning are lost.

Not at all. It’s widely accepted in design and printing. Just make sure to replace it with real content before publishing or printing final versions.

In its current form, no. However, some parts come from actual Latin and can be traced back to real passages, mainly from Cicero’s De finibus bonorum et malorum.

Yes! There have been cases where designers forgot to replace the placeholder text, leading to Lorem Ipsum appearing in brochures, websites, and even packaging.

Absolutely! You can find all kinds, like Bacon Ipsum, Zombie Ipsum, or Cupcake Ipsum, which add humor while still serving the same layout purpose.

From

Leo Neumann

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About the author

Leo Neumann has completed a bachelor's degree in Marketing Management from IU Nuremberg. They have gained practical experience and regularly wrote scientific papers as part of their academic journey. Their expertise makes them an excellent fit for the BachelorPrint team, where they emphasize the importance of high-quality content and aim to support students in navigating their busy academic lives. As a recent graduate, Leo understands the challenges students face and the kind of support they need.

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Bibliography

Neumann, L. (2025, July 04). Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained. BachelorPrint. https://www.bachelorprint.com/printing-guide/printing-terms/lorem-ipsum/ (retrieved 07.06.2025)

In-text citation

Parenthetical
(Neumann , 2025)
Narrative
Neumann (2025)

Bibliography

Neumann, Leo. 2025. "Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained." BachelorPrint, Retrieved July 06, 2025. https://www.bachelorprint.com/printing-guide/printing-terms/lorem-ipsum/.

In-text citation

Parenthetical
(Neumann 2025)

Bibliography

Leo Neumann, "Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained," BachelorPrint, July 04, 2025, https://www.bachelorprint.com/printing-guide/printing-terms/lorem-ipsum/ (retrieved July 06, 2025).

Footnotes

Short note
Neumann, "Shortened title."

Bibliography

Neumann, Leo: Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained, in: BachelorPrint, 07.04.2025, [online] https://www.bachelorprint.com/printing-guide/printing-terms/lorem-ipsum/ (retrieved 07.06.2025).

Footnotes

Full note
Neumann, Leo: Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained, in: BachelorPrint, 07.04.2025, [online] https://www.bachelorprint.com/printing-guide/printing-terms/lorem-ipsum/ (retrieved 07.06.2025).
Direct quote
Neumann, 2025.
Indirect quote
Neumann, 2025.

Bibliography

Neumann, Leo (2025): Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained, in: BachelorPrint, [online] https://www.bachelorprint.com/printing-guide/printing-terms/lorem-ipsum/ (retrieved 07.06.2025).

In-text citation

Direct quote
(Neumann, 2025)
Indirect quote
(Neumann, 2025)
Narrative
Neumann (2025)

Bibliography

Neumann, Leo. "Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained." BachelorPrint, 07.04.2025, https://www.bachelorprint.com/printing-guide/printing-terms/lorem-ipsum/ (retrieved 07.06.2025).

In-text citation

Parenthetical
(Neumann)
Narrative
Neumann

Bibliography

Number. Neumann L. Lorem Ipsum – The Classic Dummy Text Explained [Internet]. BachelorPrint. 2025 [cited 07.06.2025]. Available from: https://www.bachelorprint.com/printing-guide/printing-terms/lorem-ipsum/


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