Insert Lorem Ipsum or Random Text into Microsoft Word Documents
Creating Lorem Ipsum or Random Text is simple if you have a copy of Microsoft Word. Here’s how it works as well as how to tweak the default behavior.
All versions of Microsoft Word (Mac and Windows) have a hidden feature that allows you to insert Lorem Ipsum and Random text into your document with just a few keystrokes. Although I don’t use the feature much for Microsoft Docs, I use it all the time when I need to create a mock website with dummy text or create a mockup of something for a PowerPoint presentation.
The command for creating either Random Text or Lorem Ipsum works exactly the same, but let’s step through the process for both, starting with Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
Type =lorem() into a new or existing Word document and hit the enter key.
Additional Features
If you want more control over the text created, you can modify the syntax to change the default behavior. This is very handy if you want a specific amount of text. to control how much text is generated.
- Use the Syntax =lorem(paragraph,sentence) or =rand(paragraph,sentence)
- =lorem(3,9) will create Lorem Ipsum text output with 3 Paragraphs each with 9 Sentences
- =rand(4,3) will create Random text output with 4 Paragraphs, each with 3 Sentences
Random Text
Type =rand() into a new or existing Word document to insert random text.
Article originally published 4/8/2008. Updated 5/30/2024
10 Comments
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jjacks
April 10, 2008 at 9:48 am
Great tip. That’s a new one for me! Would almost classify this as an “easter egg”.
Thanks GroovyDude
MrGroove
April 10, 2008 at 4:06 pm
@JJacks – Appreciate the feedback! The feature is actually documented in KB212251 which is why I didn’t call it an Easter Egg. It is however one of the more obscure features in the Microsoft Office family.
Bill Peschka
February 28, 2011 at 12:10 pm
If the title is “How-To Insert Loren Ipsum into Microsoft Word 2010 or 2007 Document” and the Additional Info says lorem() only works in 2007, couldn’t the title be shortened and the footnote eliminated?
MrGroove
May 22, 2011 at 12:03 am
Hi Bill – Just tested Word 2010 and it look like it’s working now so I updated the article again. Thanks for the comment.
David Ferrier
October 29, 2011 at 8:25 am
Minor typo:
•Word 2007, 2010 ***support*** the =lorem() syntax
•Word 2003, 2007 and 2010 ***supports*** the =rand() syntax
I suggest both comments use “support”
DB
April 23, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Not working for me. Is there some setting I need to fix? When I type it, all I get is a paragraph return. Any ideas? Thanks!
Bill Peschka
April 23, 2013 at 9:32 pm
What version of Word?
What are you typing that doesn’t work?
DB
April 24, 2013 at 8:28 am
Bill, I am in Word 2007 (still). At the top of a new document I typed =lorem(3,3) just to see if it would work. When I hit enter, I simply moved to the next line; no new text appeared. I’m hopeful that this is user error because I think it would be cool to use. Thanks for following up.
Bill Peschka
April 24, 2013 at 9:21 am
DB
I’m on 2010 so can’t match your experience. I remember having no problem in 2007, but believe I was using the =rand(3,3) rather than lorem..
So, my only suggestion would be to try rand()
Good Luck
Steve Krause
May 30, 2024 at 9:40 am
Updated article again. At this point, it should be working for all versions of Microsoft Word including Mac and Windows. The older versions…. yeah, your mileage may vary.