diff --git a/hooks/useTypewriter.ts b/hooks/useTypewriter.ts
index 6e01db0..624020e 100644
--- a/hooks/useTypewriter.ts
+++ b/hooks/useTypewriter.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,31 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 
+/**
+ * Cycles through `words` with a typewriter effect.
+ * @param words - Must be referentially stable (define outside component or wrap in useMemo).
+ * @param typingSpeed - ms per character while typing (default 80)
+ * @param deletingSpeed - ms per character while deleting (default 40)
+ * @param pauseMs - ms to pause after a full word is typed (default 2000)
+ * @returns The currently displayed string
+ */
 export function useTypewriter(words: string[], typingSpeed = 80, deletingSpeed = 40, pauseMs = 2000) {
   const [displayed, setDisplayed] = useState("");
   const [wordIndex, setWordIndex] = useState(0);
   const [isDeleting, setIsDeleting] = useState(false);
+  const pauseRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
+    if (!words.length) return;
+
     const current = words[wordIndex % words.length];
 
     const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
       if (!isDeleting) {
         setDisplayed(current.slice(0, displayed.length + 1));
         if (displayed.length + 1 === current.length) {
-          setTimeout(() => setIsDeleting(true), pauseMs);
+          pauseRef.current = setTimeout(() => setIsDeleting(true), pauseMs);
         }
       } else {
         setDisplayed(current.slice(0, displayed.length - 1));
@@ -25,7 +36,10 @@ export function useTypewriter(words: string[], typingSpeed = 80, deletingSpeed =
       }
     }, isDeleting ? deletingSpeed : typingSpeed);
 
-    return () => clearTimeout(timeout);
+    return () => {
+      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      if (pauseRef.current) clearTimeout(pauseRef.current);
+    };
   }, [displayed, isDeleting, wordIndex, words, typingSpeed, deletingSpeed, pauseMs]);
 
   return displayed;