Microsoft Word has a function that allows you to create random text in a few steps. This random text is also called dummy text or ‘Lorem Ipsum’ in Latin. It is meaningless content consisting of a few sentences, which is convenient for bloggers. You can quickly fill half a page of text, and it is also possible to decide the length of the text. This article will show you alternative ways to generate random text in Microsoft Word.
Table of contents
How to generate random text in Word
The easiest method to create random text in a Microsoft Word document is using the rand function.
Follow the steps below to generate random text in Word.
- Place your cursor or click in your Word document where you want the random text to appear.
- Type =rand()
- Then press the ENTER button
Word automatically generates the random text, as you can see in the picture below. The default content of this random text consists of 5 paragraphs, each consisting of 3 sentences.
Create long random text with the rand() function in Word
Suppose you want to enter a longer random text in Word than the default. Fortunately, you can decide how many paragraphs and sentences the random text will have. Use the format below to determine the size of the text.
=rand(number of paragraphs, number of sentences in each paragraph)Follow the steps below to create a longer random text in Word.
- Place your cursor or click in your Word document where you want the random text to appear.
- Type =rand(8,5)
- Then press the ENTER button
The only difference is that you have to put numbers between the formula’s brackets.
You will now see the longer random text is created in Word. It consists of 8 paragraphs, each with 5 sentences.
Insert Lorem Ipsum text
Another method is to insert Latin text into your Word document. This type of dummy text is written in Latin and is not understandable, which some find better to use. Follow the steps below to insert a dummy text in Word. Please notice that this text generator only works in Microsoft Word on Windows.
- Place your cursor or click in your Word document where you want the random text to appear.
- Type =lorem()
- Then press the ENTER button
Word automatically generates the Latin text into your document. The default Lorem Ipsum content consists of 5 paragraphs with 3 sentences. Don’t get misinterpreted by the number of lines of each paragraph, as some sentences are shorter than others.
Insert long Latin text using the lorem() function in Word
You can decide how many paragraphs and sentences the Latin text will have. You can make the Latin text longer or shorter by using the format below.
=lorem(number of paragraphs, number of senctences in each paragraph)Follow the steps below to create a longer Latin text in Word.
- Place your cursor or click in your Word document where you want the Latin text to appear.
- Type =lorem(8,5)
- Then press the ENTER button
The only difference is that you have to write numbers between the brackets in the formula. After you press the ENTER button, it will automatically generate a Latin text that is less or more extended than the default.
The picture below shows how you can easily enter a longer Lorem Ipsum text in Word. Now it consists of 8 paragraphs of 5 sentences. Some sentences are a bit shorter than others, as you can see below. Therefore some paragraphs will have two or four lines.
Creating dummy text in Word is not working
If you have problems or issues when using the lorem function, try to check which Word version you are using. Remember that Lorem Ipsum text in Microsoft Word does not work on Mac.
=lorem() only works on Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2019 on Windows versions.
It is always safer to use the rand function, as it works on all Word versions. Notice that Microsoft Word for Mac only supports inserting random text.
=rand() function works on Microsoft Word 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2019.
Conclusion
Now you have learned how to use the rand function to insert random text in Microsoft Word. Another way is to use the lorem function to generate Latin content. Remember that you can also decide the length of the random ‘dummy’ text. We hope that this article has helped you understand how to create a random text in Word.