More often than not, we get emails or calls from clients asking us why there's a strange language in their website or creative piece draft. Some even think there's something wrong with their computer suddenly or their eyes are playing up on them!
While many think it's straight-up Latin (more on that in a moment), the "language" they're looking at is lorem ipsum, which is the industry standard for dummy text. If you’ve ever wondered about the definition of lorem ipsum, it’s essentially placeholder text used in design and publishing. We use this text while designing websites, to help with layout planning, and to give our clients a better idea of where we may need their help with finishing off their site.
While many think that lorem ipsum is a new tool, it in fact dates back to the 1500s, when an unknown printer scrambled letters to make a type specimen book. While it isn't full-blown Latin, it does have its roots in the ancient language, with some words and phrases used in lorem ipsum dating back thousands of years.
The standard phrase used is:
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua..."
Many programs and platforms that designers and developers use include lorem ipsum as a filler-text tool, making it easy for us to add phrases into placeholders, without distracting the reader with actual English words.
Other programmers may use their own filler text based on lorem ipsum, and hide jokes or 'easter eggs' to give it their own personal touch.
There are many sites on the internet that provide lorem ipsum text phrases. For the full history and an authentic lorem ipsum generator, be sure to check out Lipsum.com.
