Akshay Dhan

Akshay Dhan

Senior Research Fellow at Computer Science Unit, ISI Chennai centre

Typography Tales: The Curious case of lorem ipsum!

2 minute read

Published:

Have you ever wondered about the cryptic text that designers and publishers use as a placeholder in their work? This mysterious text, known as “Lorem ipsum,” has a fascinating history that dates back centuries. Join me on a journey as we delve into the world of Lorem ipsum, uncovering its true origins and understanding why it continues to be an essential part of the design process. Additionally, we’ll explore some compelling alternatives to Lorem ipsum that designers can consider for their projects.

Lorem ipsum: The Meaning and Origins:

As we explore the enigmatic roots of Lorem ipsum, we find that it is derived from the Latin philosophical work “De finibus bonorum et malorum” written by Cicero, a renowned Roman philosopher from ancient times. However, the Lorem ipsum we know today is a corrupted version, with some words omitted and nonsensical additions. Ironically, the first two words, “Lorem ipsum,” can be traced back to the phrase “dolorem ipsum,” meaning “pain itself” in Latin.

The Purpose Behind its Usage:

The use of Lorem ipsum as a placeholder text is not merely a random choice. In the world of publishing and graphic design, creating layouts before the actual content is available is a common practice. However, using random text would fail to mimic the natural flow of language and might misrepresent the design’s final appearance. The familiarity and structure of Lorem ipsum enable designers to maintain the intended aesthetics and readability during the design phase.

A Digital Revolution: Lorem Ipsum in the Modern Age:

Although Lorem ipsum has been employed in typesetting since the 1960s, its digital journey began in the mid-1980s. Aldus, the pioneering company behind the popular desktop publishing program PageMaker, introduced Lorem ipsum to the digital world. Over time, many other word processors, including Pages and Microsoft Word, have embraced this quirky placeholder text, making it a ubiquitous part of the design process.

The Unique Properties of Lorem Ipsum:

While Lorem ipsum has become a standard choice for designers, it is not the only placeholder text option available. Its properties are not entirely unique, allowing for alternative replacements. In this section, we’ll explore some compelling alternatives to Lorem ipsum, such as:

  • Bacon Ipsum: A mouthwatering alternative that generates text with a focus on various types of bacon.
  • Cupcake Ipsum: A sweet and delightful option that fills your layout with cupcake-themed text.
  • Hipster Ipsum: For a touch of hipster flair, this alternative generates text with a trendy and artistic vibe.
  • Pirate Ipsum: Arrr! This fun alternative injects your design with some swashbuckling pirate-themed text.
  • Zombie Ipsum: A spooktacular option that fills your layout with zombie-inspired gibberish.

While Lorem ipsum continues to be a popular choice, designers now have exciting alternatives to explore, allowing them to inject creativity and uniqueness into their projects.

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