Q. Is it ok to greek text in a preliminary layout? I’ve heard both yes and no.
A. Greeking is the name given to placeholder or dummy text used in place of actual text. Greeked text often begins with Lorem ipsum. Although originally derived from classic Latin literature (Cicero’s De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum), it is basically nonsensical.
Some designers use greeked text in the preliminary stages of a design when final copy isn’t available. I advise against it, especially if you’re showing the design to clients. Greeked text attracts attention to itself by virtue of its unreadability, thus distracting the eye from the overall layout.
I think a better solution is to use dummy copy that’s English so that nonsensical text doesn’t distract from the entire layout. The ideal dummy text relates to the topic (especially the first sentence or paragraph). Look for suitable placeholder text on the Web, such as Project Gutenberg.
If you’re determined to use nonsense text, you can do so easily in InDesign:
- Select a text frame or place you cursor in one.
- Choose Type > Fill with Placeholder Text. Tip: Hold Command/Ctrl to select a different language for the placeholder text.
This article was last modified on October 4, 2026
This article was first published on April 9, 2009
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