So, you’re bored. You’ve been staring at the same standard English 200 word lists on Monkeytype for three hours, and your fingers are basically on autopilot. You know the words "the," "against," and "system" so well you could type them in your sleep. But honestly? That's not how we actually type in the real world. Real typing is messy. It’s full of weird jargon, specific coding syntax, or that one niche vocabulary you use for your biology thesis. That is exactly where Monkey Type custom text comes in to save your Muscle memory from rotting.
Most people think typing fast is just about moving your fingers quickly. It isn't. It’s about pattern recognition. When you use the custom text feature, you’re essentially "programing" your brain to handle the specific clusters of letters you actually use in your day-to-day life.
Getting Started With Custom Text (It’s Easier Than It Looks)
Actually setting this up is dead simple, though the UI can sometimes feel like a pilot's cockpit if you're new. You just hit the "Custom" button at the top of the screen. A little "Change" button appears. You click it. Then, you just paste whatever you want into the box.
But here is the thing. Don't just paste a random Wikipedia article.
If you are a coder, paste a block of Python or C++. Dealing with those brackets and semicolons is a totally different beast than typing "the quick brown fox." Your speed will probably tank at first. That's fine. It’s supposed to happen. You’re building new neural pathways. It's kinda like switching from a paved road to a gravel path—you're going to stumble until you get used to the terrain.
The Power of "Words Filter" vs. "Pure Text"
Inside the Monkey Type custom text settings, you have two main ways to play. You can either use the text exactly as it is written (Literal mode) or you can have the site pull random words from your text (Random mode).
Literal mode is great for practicing specific quotes or poems. If you’re trying to memorize a speech, typing it out over and over is a fantastic way to bake it into your brain. On the flip side, Random mode is better for pure mechanical practice. It stops you from "predicting" the next word based on context, forcing your eyes to actually read every single character.
✨ Don't miss: Why Raising Numbers to the 4 Power Still Breaks Most People's Brains
Why Your Current Typing Routine Is Probably Failing You
Standard tests are predictable. You get used to the rhythm of common words. But then you go to write an email about "asynchronous synchronization" or "paleontological discoveries," and suddenly your WPM (words per minute) drops from 120 to 60.
This happens because your brain hasn't practiced those specific transitions.
By using Monkey Type custom text, you can target your weaknesses. If you struggle with words containing 'q' or 'z', find a list of words with those letters and paste them in. Real improvement happens in the "stretch zone"—that uncomfortable space where you're struggling just a little bit.
The Secret of The "Repeat" Function
One feature people often overlook is the ability to repeat the same custom text. If you're using a specific list of difficult vocabulary, don't just do it once. Do it ten times. Watch your speed go from 40 to 50 to 70. This isn't just "cheating" by memorizing; it’s training your fingers to find the most efficient path between keys.
It’s about economy of motion.
Technical Nuances You Should Know
When you’re importing your own data, pay attention to the "split by" settings. You can choose to split your text by newline or by space. This sounds like a minor detail, but if you’re trying to practice poetry or code, keeping the line breaks matters.
And for the real nerds out there? You can actually use URLs. If there’s a specific blog post or an online book you want to practice with, you can sometimes pull that data directly.
Let's talk about the "Add to Favorites" option. If you find a specific custom text set that really challenges you, save it. You want a library of different "workouts." You wouldn't go to the gym and only do bicep curls forever, right? You need a leg day. In typing terms, "leg day" is that custom text full of numbers and special characters that makes your hands cramp.
📖 Related: The 10 to the Power of 10 Problem: Why Ten Billion Is Bigger Than Your Brain Thinks
What The Pros Are Doing Differently
If you watch high-level typists like Sean Wrona or the people leading the Monkeytype leaderboards, they aren't just spamming the "15 seconds" test. They are often practicing specific word sets.
They use Monkey Type custom text to simulate the hardest possible scenarios.
- Coding Snippets: Practicing
for i in range(len(list)):over and over. - Medical Terminology: For students who need to type "acetylcholinesterase" without thinking.
- Foreign Languages: Pasting in Spanish or French text to get used to different letter frequencies.
The nuance here is that speed is a byproduct of accuracy and familiarity. You can't rush familiarity. You have to put in the reps. Custom text allows those reps to be high-quality instead of just filler.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't use text that is too long. If you paste a 5,000-word essay, you might get overwhelmed or lose focus halfway through. Stick to chunks of 200 to 500 words. It keeps the "feedback loop" tight. You finish, see your stats, adjust, and go again.
Also, watch out for "dirty" text. If you copy-paste from a PDF, you might get weird artifacts, like hidden characters or broken formatting. Clean it up in a notepad first. Trust me, nothing ruins a good typing flow like a random "u200b" hidden character that you can't see but the site expects you to type.
The Mental Game of Custom Typing
There is a psychological element here too. Typing the same thing over and over is boring. It’s a grind. By bringing in your own content—maybe lyrics from your favorite album or a script from a movie—you make the process actually enjoyable.
When you're engaged, you stay in the "flow state" longer. Flow state is that magic moment where you stop thinking about your fingers and the words just appear on the screen. It’s almost like the keyboard disappears. Custom text is the fastest way to get there because the content actually means something to you.
Taking Your Speed to The Next Level
If you’ve hit a plateau at 80 WPM, it's usually because you’ve mastered common English but suck at "big" words or punctuation.
Go find a technical manual. Copy a chapter. Paste it into the Monkey Type custom text box.
You will suck at it. You will hate it. Your WPM will fall off a cliff. But after a week of doing that for 15 minutes a day, when you go back to the regular English 200 test, you will feel like you’re typing in slow motion. Everything will feel easier because you’ve been training in "high gravity."
Practical Next Steps for Faster Fingers
- Identify your "Zero" words: These are the words that always make you pause or stumble. Write them down as you notice them.
- Create a "Problem List": Take those words, put them into a text file, and repeat them 50 times each.
- Use the Custom Feature: Copy that list and paste it into Monkeytype.
- Toggle "Strict" Mode: If you really want to improve, turn on the "Master" or "Expert" difficulty in settings while using your custom text. This forces you to restart or stop if you make a single mistake. It sounds brutal because it is, but it's the fastest way to kill bad habits.
- Mix it up: Spend 50% of your time on standard tests and 50% on custom text. This keeps your general speed high while specifically targeting your technical weaknesses.
Stop practicing like everyone else if you want results that aren't like everyone else's. The tools are right there in the custom menu. Use them.