Memory Strategy: Mnemonics
Mnemonics are memory strategies that make it easier to remember information by creating associations. Mnemonics are useful when you need to memorize lists or large amounts of information.
Acronym-based mnemonics use the first letter of target words to create an easily remembered phrase or sentence. For example, many people remember the mathematical order of operations (parentheses, exponents, multiply, divide, add, subtract) with “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally.”
How to Create Your Own Mnemonic
- Consider what critical information you need to remember and how you can be creative.
- Example: For my astronomy class, I need to remember the order of planets from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
- Take the first letter (or a key word) of the item you need to remember and write it down. Repeat for all items.
- Example: M, V, E, M, J, S, U, N
- Create a phrase or a sentence that incorporates the first letters (or key words). Pick the first thing that pops into your head – it doesn’t have to make sense!
- Example: My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos
- Practice writing out/reciting the items you need to remember and your new phrase together until you’ve got it memorized.
- Example: I will repeatedly write and verbalize the information: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune alongside “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos,” until I memorize the planetary order.
Additional Tips: Keep the mnemonic simple. There’s no point in creating extra work trying to remember a mnemonic that is more complicated than what you set out to remember in the first place. And don’t worry if the acronym that you created doesn’t make sense – if you remember it, go with it! Surprising/strange acronyms are often easier to recall.
Try It!
- Go through the steps to create your own mnemonic. You can use information that you need to remember for your own class. Alternatively, you can practice with this example: For a history class, you need to remember the names of the give Great Lakes of North America – Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario (see an example acronym at the bottom of this page).
- Consider what critical information you need to remember and how you can be creative.
- Take the first letter (or a key word) of the item you need to remember and write it down. Repeat for all items.
- Create a phrase or a sentence that incorporates the first letters (or key words). Pick the first thing that pops into your head – it doesn’t have to make sense!
- Practice writing out/reciting the items you need to remember and your new phrase together until you’ve got it memorized.
If you would like additional support or want to practice creating mnemonics, schedule an appointment with one of our academic coaches.
(Example acronym: HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)
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Memory Strategy: Mnemonics
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