Useful Things

Text Test Pattern

I've been wanting a replacement for lorem ipsum for a long time. Lorem ipsum does not reflect English word length and usage patterns, and it doesn't readily offer an opportunity to check how special characters show up. The texts below are straightforward and inoffensive, are obviously placeholders, and are based on the beginnings of well-known English-language novels of the 20th century. (I will buy a pint of beer for the first person to figure out what either of the base texts is.) They also have numbers indicating the word count every so far (the number 100 is the 100th word, for instance), so they can be cut and pasted to suit. Feel free to use them as suits your needs.

I have at the moment four texts. The first one I made, at the bottom, is the most abstract and obviously just a repeating pattern, but it doesn't hyphenate well, and it's in longer sentences and longer paragraphs. I based the other three texts on a different source, and I used a letter substitution algorithm to produce English-like dummy tex that should hyphenate appropriately. The first two versions have fewer ascenders and descenders than the second, but are slightly more in line with English phonotactics and so may hyphenate better. I've made the first two into block versions with no paragraph divisions so you can grab as much of it as you need and divide it as you prefer. The first version has no accents or non-English characters; the others run through assorted accents so you can test how they show up in your document if you want.

I intend to put up some other text test patterns in the future as time allows, ones that match specific kinds of usage (web text, ads, technical text, what have you). I welcome suggestions, comments, etc.

I've added downloadable text files for these; the links are immediately above the texts.

"Spe al Rist Sopl?" Lru setsp ler astisp, olr Ustes Pelrast siopl rus tespelraist spo lur's tesp. Lre sat sip lour es tespla, ristous eplrestasp. Lir stos plu restes pal ir sto usp el rse tspail, rostus spelrs teaspl fis otus, epl rse atis pouler stseaplr is Otsue Pelrast, 50 siplors uts plers – et as pli roustees pal rios utspelres ta spi louresets apiolurest seplar sit. "Spo lur see tas plir?" ostus Eplea Ristosp, lur seets pilro. Stu sep learis otuespl rse tasi op lru seetsap; i lorsu et spelar stisp lorust sep lersatsip lro sutes pelras it spo 100 lru. "Ste seap il rostus pee?" la irsot. "Us peelr's," tsaplir Ostue Seplars. Ti soupler setsape ilro sut sepler. Stai sop lur stespel ras its oplur set e sapi, lros tus pele ar sitsopl, ur es te sapl rsit sopulr est seplpari sto spulres et spa lirs. Tsoup ler 150 setas pilo ru steseapl ir sto spluers tsepa lior stus ep ler sat sipolruse te saplir so utspeleraist, osp lu res te sapilo ru seet spa liroust es pler sat's pilrosutes pelrais. "To sup leer sat is polrue," se tais, polrust spe lera si tso plures tsep lar si tosu. "Plers tea, sip," lour ste seape, lirsout espelars, its 200 plo ruse teasip lorsuts pel e rasits. Plo ruse tes palr-stispol, rus te sepal ir soutesepl ars tisopul resetsapiol; rsu etes pali orsutsepelr. Stsai Polrust sepler as, tispolurs tse pe alrist sopl ur es tsep lari os tue, spel resta is plour setseap liorus. Te, se plairst, sop 250 lrues, tsepa's lirsots pu leer: sats ip olruste, seplaris otsrupelreas tisp lo rueste as iplors. Tu sep lerasi otsupleres ta spi lourest, sep la riost supl re estsapilour set es; pal rsi tos pul rsetes ap il ro stus pler Estai sopl ur, es et sa pliorst spul ere 300 staisp lour es, ets pali: or us te spel rsa tiosup. Elrea Sitsopl rustes pel rsaitsopl rstuespl, er satspiolruees tasp-lirsotsupe. Le ras ti spol rsut, se plearsi; so pul resetsapl ri osutese plarst. Sip lo ursets pelr as? Ti sop lruste-spe lairs osp. Lu rseet sa plirs 350. Setas pilo ru steseapl ir sto spluers tsepa lior stus ep ler sat sipolruse te saplir so utspeleraist, osp lu res te sapilo ru seet spa liroust es pler sat's pilrosutes pelrais. "To sup leer sat is polrue," se tais, polrust spe lera si tso plures tsep lar si tosu. "Plers tea, sip," lour ste seape, lirsout espelars, its 400. Plo ruse teasip lorsuts pel e rasits. Plo ruse tes palr-stispol, rus te sepal ir soutesepl ars tisopul resetsapiol; rsu etes pali orsutsepelr. Stsai Polrust sepler as, tispolurs tse pe alrist sopl ur es tsep lari os tue, spel resta is plour setseap liorus. Te, se plairst, sop 450 lrues, tsepa's lirsots pu leer: sats ip olruste, seplaris otsrupelreas tisp lo rueste as iplors. Tu sep lerasi otsupleres ta spi lourest, sep la riost supl re estsapilour set es; pal rsi tos pul rsetes ap il ro stus pler Estai sopl ur, es et sa pliorst spul ere 500.

"Spé ál Ríst Sópl?" Lrú setsp lèr àstìçp, òlr Ùstes Pêlrâst sîôpl rûs tespëlräïst spö lür's tÿsp. Lrœ såt ßip lœur es tespla, ristøus eplrestãsp. Liñ stõs plu restes pal ir sto usp el rse tspail, rostus spelrs teaspl fis otus, epl rse atis pouler stseaplr is Otsue Pelrast, 50 siplors uts plers—et as pli roustees pal rios utspelres ta spi louresets apiolurest seplar sit. "Spo lur see tas plir?" ostus Eplea Ristosp, lur seets pilro. Stu sep learis otuespl rse tasi op lru seetsap; i lorsu et spelar stisp lorust sep lersatsip lro sutes pelras it spo 100 lru. "Ste seap il rostus pee?" la irsot. "Us peelr's," tsaplir Ostue Seplars. Ti soupler setsape ilro sut sepler. Stai sop lur stespel ras its oplur set e sapi, lros tus pele ar sitsopl, ur es te sapl rsit sopulr est seplpari sto spulres et spa lirs. Tsoup ler 150 setas pilo ru steseapl ir sto spluers tsepa lior stus ep ler sat sipolruse te saplir so utspeleraist, osp lu res te sapilo ru seet spa liroust es pler sat's pilrosutes pelrais. "To sup leer sat is polrue," se tais, polrust spe lera si tso plures tsep lar si tosu. "Plers tea, sip," lour ste seape, lirsout espelars, its 200 plo ruse teasip lorsuts pel e rasits. Plo ruse tes palr-stispol, rus te sepal ir soutesepl ars tisopul resetsapiol; rsu etes pali orsutsepelr. Stsai Polrust sepler as, tispolurs tse pe alrist sopl ur es tsep lari os tue, spel resta is plour setseap liorus. Te, se plairst, sop 250 lrues, tsepa's lirsots pu leer: sats ip olruste, seplaris otsrupelreas tisp lo rueste as iplors. Tu sep lerasi otsupleres ta spi lourest, sep la riost supl re estsapilour set es; pal rsi tos pul rsetes ap il ro stus pler Estai sopl ur, es et sa pliorst spul ere 300 staisp lour es, ets pali: or us te spel rsa tiosup. Elrea Sitsopl rustes pel rsaitsopl rstuespl, er satspiolruees tasp-lirsotsupe. Le ras ti spol rsut, se plearsi; so pul resetsapl ri osutese plarst. Sip lo ursets pelr as? Ti sop lruste-spe lairs osp. Lu rseet sa plirs 350. Setas pilo ru steseapl ir sto spluers tsepa lior stus ep ler sat sipolruse te saplir so utspeleraist, osp lu res te sapilo ru seet spa liroust es pler sat's pilrosutes pelrais. "To sup leer sat is polrue," se tais, polrust spe lera si tso plures tsep lar si tosu. "Plers tea, sip," lour ste seape, lirsout espelars, its 400. Plo ruse teasip lorsuts pel e rasits. Plo ruse tes palr-stispol, rus te sepal ir soutesepl ars tisopul resetsapiol; rsu etes pali orsutsepelr. Stsai Polrust sepler as, tispolurs tse pe alrist sopl ur es tsep lari os tue, spel resta is plour setseap liorus. Te, se plairst, sop 450 lrues, tsepa's lirsots pu leer: sats ip olruste, seplaris otsrupelreas tisp lo rueste as iplors. Tu sep lerasi otsupleres ta spi lourest, sep la riost supl re estsapilour set es; pal rsi tos pul rsetes ap il ro stus pler Estai sopl ur, es et sa pliorst spul ere 500.

"Spé ál Ríft Sópl?"

Lrú fytsp lèr àftìçp, òlr Ùftys Pêlrâft sîôpl rûf tyspëlräïft spö lür'f tÿsp. Lrœ fåt ßip lœur yf tespla, riftøus yplreftãsp. Liñ ftõs plu ryftes pal ir fto usp yl rfe tspail, roftus spylrf teaspl rif otus, ypl rfe atis poulyr ftseaplr if Otsuy Pelraft, 50 siplorf uts plyrf—et as pli rouftyes pal riof utspylref ta spi louryfets apioluryft seplar fit.

"Spo lur fye tas plir?" oftus Yplea Riftosp, lur fyets pilro.

Ftu syp learif otuyspl rfe tasi op lru fyetsap; i lorfu yt spelar ftisp loruft syp lerfatsip lro futys pelraf it spo 100 lru.

"Fty seap il roftus pye?" la irfot.

"Us pyelr'f," tsaplir Oftuy Seplarf.

Ti souplyr fetsapy ilro fut sypler. Ftai sop lur ftyspel raf its oplur fyt e sapi, lrof tus pyle ar fitsopl, ur yf te sapl rfit sopulr yft seplpari fto spulryf et spa lirf. Tsoup lyr 150 fetas pilo ru ftyseapl ir fto spluyrf tsepa lior ftus yp ler fat sipolrufy te saplir fo utspyleraift, osp lu ryf te sapilo ru fyet spa lirouft ys pler fat's pilrofutys pelraif.

"To sup lyer fat is polruy," fe tais, polruft spy lera fi tso pluryf tsep lar fi tosu.

"Plyrf tea, sip," lour fty seape, lirfout yspelarf, its 200 plo rufy teasip lorfuts pyl e rafits. Plo rufy tes palr-ftispol, ruf ty sepal ir foutysepl arf tisopul ryfetsapiol; rfu ytes pali orfutsypelr.

Ftsai Polruft sypler af, tispolurf tsy pe alrift sopl ur yf tsep lari of tuy, spyl refta is plour fytseap lioruf. Ty, se plairft, sop 250 lruyf, tsepa's lirfots pu lyer: fats ip olrufty, seplarif otsrupylreaf tisp lo ruyfte as iplorf. Tu syp lerafi otsuplyref ta spi louryft, sep la rioft supl ry eftsapilour fyt es; pal rfi tos pul rfytes ap il ro ftus plyr Eftai sopl ur, yf et sa pliorft spul yre 300 ftaisp lour yf, ets pali: or uf ty spel rfa tiosup.

Ylrea Fitsopl ruftys pel rfaitsopl rftuyspl, er fatspiolruyef tasp-lirfotsupy. Le raf ti spol rfut, sy plearfi; so pul ryfetsapl ri ofutyse plarft. Sip lo urfyts pelr af? Ti sop lrufty-spe lairf osp. Lu rfyet sa plirf 350.

Fetas pilo ru ftyseapl ir fto spluyrf tsepa lior ftus yp ler fat sipolrufy te saplir fo utspyleraift, osp lu ryf te sapilo ru fyet spa lirouft ys pler fat's pilrofutys pelraif. "To sup lyer fat is polruy," fe tais, polruft spy lera fi tso pluryf tsep lar fi tosu. "Plyrf tea, sip," lour fty seape, lirfout yspelarf, its 400.

Plo rufy teasip lorfuts pyl e rafits. Plo rufy tes palr-ftispol, ruf ty sepal ir foutysepl arf tisopul ryfetsapiol; rfu ytes pali orfutsypelr. Ftsai Polruft sypler af, tispolurf tsy pe alrift sopl ur yf tsep lari of tuy, spyl refta is plour fytseap lioruf. Ty, se plairft, sop 450 lruyf, tsepa's lirfots pu lyer: fats ip olrufty, seplarif otsrupylreaf tisp lo ruyfte as iplorf. Tu syp lerafi otsuplyref ta spi louryft, sep la rioft supl ry eftsapilour fyt es; pal rfi tos pul rfytes ap il ro ftus plyr Eftai sopl ur, yf et sa pliorft spul yre 500.

Text test pattern. "Àá â äãæè ff éêë fiffi ìíñîï ò flffló." 'Ôöõ' ø œùúûü, abcde, fgh ijkl, mnopqr stuv wxy zàáâ äã æffèé êëf ii ffìí îïffl, flñ òóô ö õøœ, ùúûü, abcde fghi jklm nopqrst uv wx yz abc defg hi jk lm nop: qr stu v 50 wxyzab-cdef, ghi jklm nopqr stuvwxy.

Ab cde f ghijklmno pqrst uvwx yzab c defghijk, lmnopqr stuvw, xyza b cdefg hijklm nopqr stuv wx yza bcdef ghijkl. Mno pqrs tuvwxy zabc d efgh-ijklmn opqr stuv w xyzabc: d efgh ijklmnopqrs tuvwxy zabcdef ghijk, lmno pqrstuvw xyzab, cde fghijk lmnop qrs 100 tuvwxyza, bcdefghi jklm nopqrstu vwxyza, bcd efgh ijk lmno pq rstu vwx yzab cde fghij – klm nopqrs tuv wxyz ab cdefghi. Jkl mnopqr stuvw xy zab cd, efghi jklmno pqr stu vwxyz abcdefgh ijkl mno pqrs tu vwx yzab – Cde Fghi, jk lmno pqr stuvwx yza bcde fghij klmno 150 pqrstu vw – xyz abcd efghij klmn opqrs tuvwxy zab cd ef, ghijk lm nop qrst uvw xyza bc defghij. Kl mnopq rstuvwxy zab cde fghijk: lmnopqrs, tuvwxyzab, cdefghi, jklmnopq (rstu vw xyzab), cdefghijk (lm nop qrstu vwxyz abcdefg hi jklmnop), qrstuvwx, yzabcd-efghi, jkl mnop qr stu vwxy zabcd, efg 200 hijklm no pqr stuv wxyzabc. Def ghij klmno pqrs tuv wx yza bcde-fghi jklm (nopqr st), uvw xyzab cdef ghi jklm nopq rs tuvw xyzabcd, efgh-ijk lmnop qrstuvw xyzabcd efgh ijk lmnopq, rst uvwxyza bcdefg, hijklmn opqr st uvw xyzab.

Cde fghijk lmn o pqrs tuvw-xy-za bcdefg, hij klm 250 nopq rst Uvwxyza. Bcd Efghijklm nop qrstu vw xyz abcdefghijklm no pqr stuv wxy zabc def gh ijkl, mno pqrstu vwxyzabcde fghi jklm nopqrstuvwx, yza bcde fghijkl mnop qr stuv wxyz abcd, efg hijk lmnopqr stuv wxyza bcd efg hijklmnopq rs tuv wxyzabcd efghijklm: nop qrstu vwxy zabc d 300 Efghijk lmnop qrs tu vwx yzabcdef ghijklm nopqrs tuv. Wxyz ab c defgh ij klm n Opqrstu vwx yz abcdefghi, jkl mnopq rstuvwx yzabc def ghijkl mnopqr stuvwxyzab cdefghijkl. Mn opq rstu vwxy zab cdefghijkl' mnopqrs, tuv wx yzabcd – efgh, ijk lmno pqr stuvwxy za bcdefg hijklmn op qrs 350.

Pqrstu vw – xyz abcd efghij klmn opqrs tuvwxy zab cd ef, ghijk lm nop qrst uvw xyza bc defghij. Kl mnopq rstuvwxy zab cde fghijk: lmnopqrs, tuvwxyzab, cdefghi, jklmnopq (rstu vw xyzab), cdefghijk (lm nop qrstu vwxyz abcdefg hi jklmnop), qrstuvwx, yzabcd-efghi, jkl mnop qr stu vwxy zabcd, efg 400.

Nopq rst Uvwxyza. Bcd Efghijklm nop qrstu vw xyz abcdefghijklm no pqr stuv wxy zabc def gh ijkl, mno pqrstu vwxyzabcde fghi jklm nopqrstuvwx, yza bcde fghijkl mnop qr stuv wxyz abcd, efg hijk lmnopqr stuv wxyza bcd efg hijklmnopq rs tuv wxyzabcd efghijklm: nop qrstu vwxy zabc d 450 Efghijk lmnop qrs tu vwx yzabcdef ghijklm nopqrs tuv. Wxyz ab c defgh ij klm n Opqrstu vwx yz abcdefghi, jkl mnopq rstuvwx yzabc def ghijkl mnopqr stuvwxyzab cdefghijkl. Mn opq rstu vwxy zab cdefghijkl' mnopqrs, tuv wx yzabcd – efgh, ijk lmno pqr stuvwxy za bcdefg hijklmn op qrs 500.