How To Get Cursed Text: The Big, Friendly Guide to Zalgo, Glitch, and Distorted Letters

Cursed text looks like your words got possessed by static, with letters crawling upward and downward under a storm of tiny marks. People use it to make memes creepier, captions weirder, and Discord chats surreal. Despite the spooky vibe, cursed text is not a virus or a hack. It is simply regular characters plus extra Unicode symbols layered on top, in the middle, and below. In this deep dive, you will learn quick copy-paste methods, the technical trick behind cursed text, platform-by-platform tips, and even how to dial the chaos up or down without breaking your posts.

This guide is written so you can skim to what you need. If you only want a super fast method, jump to the step-by-step generator section. If you want to understand how it works and craft your own glitch style without any websites, read the Unicode walkthrough and copy the ready-made pieces. We will also cover accessibility, moderation, and why some apps turn your beautiful chaos into empty squares.

What cursed text actually is?

Cursed text is a normal word or sentence with dozens of tiny marks layered around each letter. In Unicode, these are called combining characters. A combining character does not stand on its own; it attaches to the letter immediately before it. Add one or two and you get a subtle vibe. Add twenty above and fifteen below and your text starts writhing like a digital poltergeist. The technique became famous under the nickname Zalgo text, after a meme about a looming cosmic horror. Zalgo is not a standard, just a fan name for overdone combining marks.

Under the hood, a letter like a is stored as the code point for a plus several extra code points for the decorations. Your device renders each decoration at a designated spot relative to the base character. That is why the same cursed text string can look slightly different on Android, iPhone, Windows, or Mac. Each platform’s fonts decide exactly where those tiny marks sit.

Is cursed text safe?

Yes. It is only Unicode characters, the same universal alphabet your phone and computer use every day. Cursed text is no more dangerous than typing Spanish accents or math symbols. It can cause mild headaches for search engines, screen readers, or old apps that do not handle combining marks gracefully, but it is not malware. The worst case is visual confusion or stray empty boxes when a font is missing a needed symbol.

The fastest way to get cursed text with an online generator

If you just want cursed letters now and you are not picky about how the distortion is created, a generator is the easiest route. You do not need to install anything.

Steps:

Open your browser and search for terms like cursed text generator, Zalgo text generator, or glitch text generator. There are many, and most work similarly.
Type your normal text into the input box.
Adjust intensity. Generators usually have sliders for up, middle, and down marks. Up controls marks above letters, middle inserts through the letter height, and down places marks below. Some also have randomness toggles.
Copy the output from the preview box.
Paste it into Discord, Reddit, X, Instagram captions, or wherever you want. If a website rejects it or shows squares instead of marks, scroll down to the compatibility section for fixes.

Tips for using generators well:

Keep intensity at mild or medium if you want legible words. Heavy Zalgo can make text unreadable on smaller screens.
For long captions, distort only a headline or a single attention word to balance style with readability.
If a generator lets you pick categories of marks, choose only above or only below for a neat aesthetic that still looks cursed.

The manual way to make cursed text without any website

Maybe you like tinkering or you prefer not to rely on a generator. You can build cursed text by pasting combining marks directly around your letters. Below are copyable sets grouped by region. Combine them like spices.

Top layer marks (attach above letters):

̍ ̎ ̄ ̅ ̿ ̑ ̆ ̐ ͒ ͗ ͑ ̇ ̈ ̊ ͂ ̓ ̈́ ͊ ͋ ͌ ̃ ̂ ̌ ́ ̋ ̏ ̽ ͆ ͊ ͣ ͤ ͥ ͦ ͧ ͨ ͩ ͪ ͫ ͬ ͭ ͮ ͯ

Middle layer marks (slash or overlay):

̶ ̷ ̸ ͟ ͢ ͣ ͫ ͬ ͭ ͮ

Bottom layer marks (attach below letters):

̖ ̗ ̘ ̙ ̜ ̝ ̞ ̟ ̠ ̤ ̥ ̩ ̪ ̫ ̬ ̭ ̮ ̯ ̰ ̱ ̲ ̳ ̹ ̺ ̻ ̼ ͅ ͇ ͈ ͉ ͍ ͎ ͕ ͔ ͓ ͑

How to apply them:

Write a word in a text field that supports Unicode. Notes on your phone, a desktop document, or any rich text box works well.
After each letter, paste one or more combining marks. For example, type h then paste ̇ ͐ ̿ then type e then paste ̲ ̱ then type l then paste ̅ ̽ then another l with ̲ and ͟ then o with ̈ ̳.
Keep your cursor after the letter you want to decorate. Combining marks always attach backward to the previous character.

Quick recipes:

Mild: one top mark and one bottom mark per letter, with an occasional middle slash for flavor.
Medium: two or three random top marks, one middle, one bottom on each letter.
Heavy Zalgo: four or more top marks, multiple middles, and a base of two or three bottom marks per letter.

Example phrase, mild:

ḣ̿e̲l̅l̲o̳ ṫh̄e̱r̲e̤

Example phrase, medium:

h̍͂̅e̶̲l̅̽l̲͟ö̳ ṫ͐h̄͟e̶̱r̲͕e̤̳

If your app merges too many marks and the output becomes hard to read, reduce the number of middle overlays. Those are the ones most likely to slice through glyphs in a distracting way.

Platform compatibility and where cursed text looks best

Discord and Reddit are the friendliest. Both allow Unicode combining characters in messages and posts. Heavy Zalgo can still look messy in certain mobile fonts, but the characters usually render.

X, formerly Twitter, supports cursed text in tweets and display names, but the name field might reject some symbols if they exceed a length limit after normalization. Captions and replies tend to render combining marks properly. Keep it short to avoid truncation.

Instagram accepts cursed text in captions and bios. If you care about reach, test whether your hashtags and keywords remain indexable when surrounded by heavy Zalgo. For account growth and discoverability strategy, creators often focus on clean, scannable captions and pair stylized words sparingly, the same way they would follow tips like How To Grow Instagram Followers Organically while keeping the visual hook strong and the core message readable.

TikTok supports many Unicode marks in captions, though the font used in captions can shift the position of the marks. For on-screen text inside videos, use an editor to render the effect as part of the video image so it looks the same everywhere.

YouTube titles and descriptions will show most combining marks, but the algorithm prefers clarity. Reserve cursed text for community posts or playful replies rather than titles you expect to rank.

Facebook posts, comments, and Messenger chats can display cursed text, though some variants may be normalized on different devices. If a mark disappears for a friend, their phone’s font likely does not include that diacritic.

Email clients are inconsistent. Webmail is usually fine. Some older mobile apps may strip combining characters or render them unevenly. If you send cursed text by email as a joke, include a plain version below it so the message makes sense regardless.

Gaming platforms vary. Steam chat and community posts tend to show the marks. Console overlays and in-game chat windows may normalize the text for performance. If a platform blocks non-ASCII characters, cursed text will not appear.

Accessibility and etiquette

Cursed text is fun, but not everyone can read it comfortably. Screen readers sometimes attempt to announce every combining character, turning a short sentence into a long, unpleasant ramble. People with dyslexia or visual impairments may find heavy Zalgo unusable. Practical steps:

Use cursed text for a headline or a single punchline, then include a normal version beneath it.
Avoid cursed text in any context where clarity matters, such as safety information, pricing, or rules.
Do not use cursed text for usernames in communities that rely on screen readers.

If you need the same spooky energy without accessibility trade-offs, render the styled phrase into an image and provide alt text. An image preserves the look while giving you control over contrast and legibility.

Why some apps show empty boxes or broken stacks

Empty boxes, also called tofu, appear when a font does not have a glyph for a character. With cursed text, it is rarely the base letter that is missing; it is one of the rarer combining marks. Fixes:

Reduce intensity and use common diacritics first. A handful of simple marks above and below almost always render.
Switch to a different font if the app allows it.
On the web, preview your post in both desktop and mobile modes before publishing. If you see tofu on one device, pick a lighter recipe of marks.

Sometimes the stack looks jagged because the platform’s renderer tries to avoid collisions by shifting marks. This is normal. If precise alignment matters, export the look as an image instead of relying on live text.

Keep it stylish instead of unreadable

Cursed text can be tasteful. Think like a designer. Decide which part should carry the effect. A few guidelines:

Choose one area to distort. A headline, a single horror keyword, or the punchline of a joke.
Keep the rest of the caption clean so people can scan the message quickly.
Mix intensities in one line. For example, one word at medium, the rest at mild. The contrast is eye-catching and still readable.
Consider color and background when rendering as an image. High contrast makes even wild Zalgo decipherable.

Make reusable cursed text with shortcuts and replacements

If you plan to use cursed text often, automate the boring part.

iPhone text replacement

Settings, General, Keyboard, Text Replacement.
Tap plus to add a new replacement.
In Phrase, paste a ready-made cursed word you like.
In Shortcut, type a trigger such as zzzh for a cursed hello.
Now typing zzzh expands into your favorite glitch word anywhere replacements are supported.

Android personal dictionary

Settings, System, Languages and input, On-screen keyboard, Dictionary, Personal dictionary.
Add an entry with your cursed phrase and a short shortcut.
Your keyboard suggests the expansion while you type.

Desktop text expanders

Use tools such as AutoHotkey on Windows or built-in text replacements on macOS. Store a few curated cursed words and phrases so you can drop them into chat without touching a generator again.

The tasteful recipe book: copy-ready effects

Minimal shiver

Apply one top mark and one bottom mark to only the first and last letters of a word.
Example: h̍ello̱

Neon interference

Use a middle overlay line plus one top mark per letter.
Example: g̶l̶i̶t̶c̶h̶

Upward drift

Only top marks, varied but sparse, so the word appears to float.
Example: a̍͂̄r̓͑c̑͂a̋͂n̑͗ē͐

Downward rot

Only bottom marks, with repeat characters to thicken the effect toward the baseline.
Example: m̱̲̳o̱̲̳ḻ̲̳ḏ̲̳

Surge line

Use a single middle slash through every other letter, alternating.
Example: s̶t a̶t i̶c

Headline knockout

Distort only the key word in a sentence and leave the rest plain.
Example: meet me at the o̿l̇d̽ p̄l̅ȧc̄ė

You can combine these ideas to match your aesthetic. The trick is restraint. Too many marks turn words into a blur, which is fun sometimes, but not if you want people to read them.

Content strategy for creators who want reach and weirdness

Cursed text gets attention. Algorithms also reward clarity. Use both. Put a clean hook first, then a single cursed word as a visual accent. Keep hashtags readable. Save heavy Zalgo for a reply or a second comment where it will not harm discoverability. Consider how your brand voice feels when readers encounter it for the first time. A little chaos is fun; your core message should remain understandable.

Troubleshooting and quick fixes

My text turned into boxes

Reduce intensity. Use common accents and simple underlines before exotic marks.
Try pasting into a different app first to see if the problem is platform specific.

The stack looks uneven

Remove some middle overlays. Those are most likely to collide awkwardly.
Choose shorter words for heavy effects. Long words multiply rendering quirks.

A platform rejected my post

Some platforms sanitize input aggressively. Replace the rarest marks with more common ones. If that fails, render the effect into an image and upload that instead.

Friends say they cannot read it

Add a plain-text line below the cursed version.
For long posts, reserve the effect for a single phrase.

I need to undo cursed text quickly

Paste into a plain-text editor and run a normalization function if available. If not, retype or use a simple script that strips combining marks. Many code editors can remove these characters, but you can also manually search and replace if it is a short line.

Cursed text for memes and storytelling

Horror short stories on Reddit and Discord often build tension by slipping gradually from normal letters into corrupted ones. Start with an unglitched line, then add a few top marks on the spooky word, then medium Zalgo on a sentence, then a final line where three or four words are fully distorted. The escalation reads like a cinematic glitch. For jokes, a single cursed punchline after a clean setup creates contrast that lands the gag.

For game chats, limit cursed text to the moment a boss enrages or when a ghost appears in role-play. People need to parse instructions in a dungeon; save the wild stuff for dramatic beats.

How to make cursed text that still passes moderation

Cursed text can mimic leetspeak and draw the eye, which sometimes triggers automated checks if your string looks like obfuscation. Stay within platform rules:

Keep your message short and nonspammy.
Do not hide harmful or prohibited content in visual noise.
If your text is harmless but still flagged, submit an appeal and provide the plain-text version.

A practical tip is to distort only the headline word and leave the rest of the sentence clean. Humans and algorithms both have an easier time parsing the intent that way.

Do smaller screens handle it differently than desktops

Yes. Mobile fonts and smaller line heights compress the vertical space around letters. That means top and bottom marks may overlap more. If you care about legibility on phones, preview your text on a small screen. Choosing fewer tops and bottoms while keeping a middle slash can retain the glitch vibe with less crowding. On desktops, you have more room for dramatic stacks.

A short note about ethics and accessibility

Cursed text is decorative. Use it where decoration belongs. If your community includes people who use screen readers, provide a plain alternative. If a space has rules about minimal visual noise, respect them. The goal is to share a laugh or a thrill, not to exclude anyone from reading along.

Putting it all together

Cursed text is a playful trick built on a serious piece of technology. Unicode combining characters let you layer tiny marks around ordinary letters, and every platform renders the result with its own flavor. You can get the effect instantly with generators, or you can craft your own by pasting a few carefully chosen marks after each character. The art is in restraint. A hint of chaos hooks attention. A wall of chaos repels it.

If you want people to read what you write, choose one word to corrupt and keep the rest clean. If you want to simulate a glitchy breakdown, escalate slowly. For social platforms where growth matters, blend style and strategy the same way you would blend a visual hook with a clear message, keeping the weirdness where it delights rather than where it harms readability. When you respect your audience’s eyes and accessibility needs, cursed text becomes a spice that makes your content memorable rather than a wall that keeps readers out.

In the end, cursed text works best when it serves the joke, the mood, or the moment. Learn the moves, save a few favorite recipes, and you can turn any ordinary sentence into a tiny haunted performance whenever you want.

Frequently asked questions

Is cursed text a different font?

No. It is the same font your device already uses, with combining characters stacked around each letter. A true font replaces the glyph shape itself, while cursed text keeps the base glyph and adds decorations.

Why does my friend’s phone show different distortion?

Fonts and rendering engines position combining marks slightly differently. Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS each have their own type stack. The same code points can look a little unique on each.

Can I use cursed text in usernames?

Some sites allow it; others normalize display names to safer character sets. Even where it works, consider accessibility and searchability. A clean base name with a cursed nickname in the bio often works better.

Will cursed text hurt SEO?

If you put it in titles and headings, search engines may have a harder time matching queries. For posts that you want to rank, keep the main text clean and add cursed style in nonessential lines.

How do I make a custom randomizer?

If you like coding, you can write a small script that iterates through a string and appends a random selection of combining characters to each letter, respecting a maximum count for top, middle, and bottom. Keep the counts low for readability. If you do not code, a reusable generator or text expander is simpler.

What about right-to-left languages or emojis?

Combining marks attach to the preceding character, but directionality and glyph shapes can alter where they land. Emojis are tricky because many are composite glyphs; the marks might not align. Test before publishing.