The word ''mnemonic'' is derived from the Ancient Greek word μνημονικός ''mnemonikos'' ("of memory") and is related to Mnemosyne ("remembrance"), the name of the Mother of the Muses in Greek Mythology . Both of these words refer back to to μνημα ''mnema'' ("remembrance").1 The first known reference to mnemonics is the Method Of Loci described in Cicero 's '' De Oratore ''.
The major assumption is that there are two sorts of memory: the "natural" memory and the "artificial" memory. The former is inborn, and is the one that everyone uses every day. The artificial memory is one that is trained through learning and practicing a variety of mnemonic techniques. The latter can be used to perform feats of memory that are quite extraordinary, impossible to carry out using the natural memory alone.
A is one of many memory aids that is used to create associations among facts that make it easier to remember these facts. Rhyming in poetry has been used since ancient times as a memory aid. For recalling items in a fixed sequence Peg Lists are especially useful. This method can be applied to unordered lists of things, as well, and can be used to ensure that no item is left out. The Method Of Loci is similar in that ordered lists are the target, but it relies on placing vivid emotive images onto images of places which one has previously visited repeatedly in a particular order. The Major System , or phonetic number system can be used to replace the memory of numbers with the memory of sequences of words or images.
Other methods for remembering arbitrary numbers or number sequences use Numerological (''lit. number+word'') systems such as the Abjad , where each numeral is represented by a consonant sound.
All of these can be used with the method of substitute words, which replaces an abstract or not easily visualized word or concept with one that is associated with an emotive or striking word. For example, in memorizing the periodic table, boron (which has no image associated with it that one can recall) might be associated with the substitute word "bore." Everyone has a friend who is a bore, and he would be visualized in this connection. Silicon becomes "silly con," and so on.
These techniques appear to make use of the power of the Visual Cortex to somehow make the memories more readily fixed in one's mind, and last longer than ordinary memories. For example, a number can be remembered as a picture. This makes it easier to retrieve it from memory. Mnemonic techniques should be used in conjunction with Active Recall to actually be beneficial. For example, it is not enough to look at a Mind Map ; one needs to actively reconstruct it in one's memory. These systems take advantage of the memory's ability to store more information by organizing it into " Chunks ". Concentration and repetition are still required, though not as much.
This is an example of a "peg list". It is useful for remembering ordered lists, especially for people with strong auditory learning styles. The following numbered list is static. Note the rhyme of the digit and the word (''one''/''bun'', ''two''/''glue'', and so on). The items you wish to remember should be associated with each word. A similar system utilizing a combination of this and the preceding "abjad" system can easily yield numbers through 100 or higher.
# Bun
# Glue
# Tea
# Door
# Hive
# Bricks
# Heaven
# Slate
# Line
# Pen
# Devon
# Delve
# Obscene
# Cuisine
# Serene
and so on.
This is another peg system, much like the number-rhyme system but more suitable for those with visual learning styles (a ''one'' looks like a candle; a ''two'' looks like a swan, and so on).
# Candle, spear
# Swan
# Bosom
# Sail
# Hook
# Club
# Cliff
# Hourglass
# Flag
# A candle next to an egg
Visual mnemonics are very popular in medicine as well as other fields. In this technique, an image portrays characters or objects whose name sounds like the item that has to be memorized. This object then interacts with other similarly portrayed objects that in turn represent associated information.
One common mnemonic device for remembering lists consists of an easily remembered word, phrase, or rhyme whose first letters are associated with the list items. The idea lends itself well to memorizing hard-to-break Password s as well. Though easy to derive, they are often not as powerful as the classical systems because they do not make use of visualization techniques.
Medical mnemonics are quite common, see {Link without Title} . Some of them are less Politically Correct than others, and some are Profane (presumably because their shock value makes them easier to remember). The list below doesn't censor, but in some cases does provide "clean" alternatives.
An example of a visual mnemonic for the drug "hydralazine" could be represented as "lazy hydra" that is on strike holding a sign "NO more work". "NO" in the above case symbolizes Nitrous Oxide , which is related to the drug's mechanism of action. For examples of this technique, see {Link without Title} .
(Many variants exist. Mnemonics for the cranial nerves vary, because the auditory nerve is also known as the ''Vestibulocochlear nerve'' and the accessory nerve is also known as the ''Spinal accessory nerve.'')
The old favourite for the order of structures moving through the superior orbital fissure was Luscious French Tarts Sit Naked In Anticipation. In New Zealand this became Little French Terrorists Sink Nukeprotesters In Auckland.
- "ings '''P'''lay '''C'''ards '''O'''n '''F'''airly '''G'''ood '''S'''oft '''V'''elvet3 p. 155, ""ings '''Play''' '''C'''ards '''O'''n '''F'''airly '''G'''ood '''S'''oft '''V'''elvet ("ingdom, '''P'''hylum, '''C'''lass, '''O'''rder, '''F'''amily, '''G'''enus, '''S'''pecies, '''V'''ariety) or "ids '''Pour''' '''C'''atsup '''O'''ver '''G'''reen '''S'''piders "ingdom, '''P'''hylum, '''C'''lass, '''O'''rder, '''G'''enus, '''S'''pecies)"
Many biology students use the tune of ",
A Phosphate , Sugar and a Base ,
Bonded down one side.
Adenine and Thymine ,
Make a lovely pair,
Guanine without Cytosine ,
Would be rather bare.
'''
- Chemistry students use the phrase " says '''GER'''" to keep the two halves of a Redox process straight, since the '''L'''oss of '''E'''lectrons is '''O'''xidation while the '''G'''ain of '''E'''lectrons is '''R'''eduction.4 p. 208: "When a substance loses an electron, it is oxidized; when it gains an electron, it is reduced (LEO says GER)"
- Another version is the word "", meaning '''O'''xidation '''I'''s '''L'''oss, '''R'''eduction '''I'''s '''G'''ain (of electrons).5 p. 75: "It is helpful to remember 'OIL RIG:' ''O''xidation ''i'' ''l''oss of electrons ('OIL'), ''R''eduction ''i''s ''g''ain of electrons ('RIG')."
To help remember the Electronic Color Code that is used to indicate the values or ratings of electronic components, the following phrase was in common use in electronics training in the US Navy: "ad oys '''R'''ape '''O'''ur '''Y'''oung '''G'''irls ehind '''V'''ictory '''G'''arden '''W'''alls". The letters correspond to the colors black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, grey, and white, which in turn correspond to the digits 0-9.
In the network design ) can be remembered with the mnemonics:
lease '''D'''o '''N'''ot '''T'''hrow '''S'''ausage izza '''A'''way
Or in this one (Which starts from Application -> Physical)
ll '''P'''eople '''S'''eem '''T'''o '''N'''eed '''D'''ata '''P'''rocessing
When wanting to know whether an electronic element in a circuit is a capacitor or an inductor when using AC power and all the information you are given is the phase angles of current and voltage '''E''', remember the name '''ELI''' '''ICE''' (Or '''ELI''' The '''ICE''' Man). This phrase means that your voltage '''E''' leads the current in an inductor '''L''', whereas current leads the voltage '''E''' in a capacitor '''C'''. This method is commonly used among the U.S. Military.
The ordering of frequency bands of the Radio Frequency spectrum are remembered by "eronica '''L'''oves '''M'''anipulating '''H'''er agina '''U'''ntil '''S'''he '''E'''xplodes" representing VLF , LF , MF , HF , VHF , UHF , SHF , and EHF .
- A mnemonic to remember which way to turn common (right handed) screws and nuts, including light bulbs, is "Righty tighty, lefty loosey." An alternative is to remember that ''cLockwise'' has an (for loosen), while ''counTer-clockwise'' (and ''anTi-clockwise'' in Britain) has a "T" (for tighten); this mnemonic must therefore be reversed to get the proper direction.
- Geological Time Scale
- --- The full mnemonic can be broken down to recall each of the epochs. 6 p. 84
-- amels '''O'''ften '''S'''it '''D'''own arefully '''P'''erhaps '''T'''heir '''J'''oints reak '''P'''ossibly '''E'''asing '''O'''il '''M'''ay '''P'''rove '''P'''ositively '''H'''elpful.
-- Paleozoic
- amels '''O'''ften '''S'''it '''D'''own arefully '''P'''erhaps
- Cambrian , Ordovician , Silurian , Devonian , Carboniferous , Permian .
-- Mesozoic
- heir '''J'''oints '''C'''reak
- Triassic , Jurassic , Cretaceous .
-- Cenozoic
- ossibly '''E'''asing '''O'''il '''M'''ay rove ositively '''H'''elpful.
- Paleocene , Eocene , Oligocene , Miocene , Pliocene , Pleistocene Holocene .
- Mohs Scale Of Mineral Hardness
- ---all '''G'''irls '''C'''an '''F'''lirt '''A'''nd '''O'''ther '''Q'''ueer hings '''C'''an '''D'''o
- --- Talc , Gypsum , Calcite , Fluorite , Apatite , Orthoclase , Quartz , Topaz , Corundum , Diamond .
- Remember Stalagmite s vs Stalactite s
- --- stala''mites'' - '''G''': ground - ''mite'': might reach the roof
- --- stala''tites'' - '''C''': ceiling - ''tite'': have to hang on tight or will fall off
: ''See also: Trigonometry Mnemonics ''
- Many mnemonics have been devised for remembering the digits of Pi , consisting of phrases or verses in which successive digits of pi are obtained by counting the number of letters in each word. (Fortunately, the first thirty digits of pi contain no zeroes). Some are:
- ---"How I wish I could recollect pi easily today." (3.14159 265)
- ---"How I want a drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy lectures involving quantum mechanics!" (3.14159 265358979)
- ---(Alternate version of previous) "How I need a drink, alcoholic in nature, after the heavy lectures involving quantum mechanics!" (3.14159 265358979)
- ---"Que j'aime a faire apprendre, un nombre utile aux sages. Immortel Archimede, artiste, ingenieur, qui de ton judgement peut priser la valeur?" (3.1415926535897932394626)
- ---The following sonnet is a mnemonic for pi in Iambic Pentameter :
Now I defy a tenet gallantly
Of circle canon law: these integers
Importing circles' quotients are, we see,
Unwieldy long series of cockle burs
Put all together, get no clarity;
Mnemonics shan't describeth so reformed
Creating, with a grammercy plainly,
A sonnet liberated yet conformed.
Strangely, the queer'st rules I manipulate
Being followéd, do facilitate
Whimsical musings from geometric bard.
This poesy, unabashed as it's distressed,
Evolvéd coherent - a simple test,
Discov'ring poetry no numerals jarred.
- ---See "Poe, E.: Near a Raven" for an extreme example.
- Two mnemonics for the constant E (the base for Natural Logarithm s) are "We require a mnemonic to remember e whenever we scribble math" and "To express e, remember to memorize a sentence to simplify this". The lengths of the words constitute the number 2.7182818284, an approximation of e to 10 decimal places.
- Another mnemonic for E is 2.7-Andrew Jackson-Andrew Jackson-Isoceles Right Triangle. Andrew Jackson was elected president in 1828, and the next digits, 45-90-45, may be thought of as the three angles of an Isoceles Right Triangle . This gives e to 15 places, 2.718281828459045.
- Many people remember the , students often use the sentence lease '''E'''xcuse '''M'''y '''D'''ear '''A'''unt '''S'''ally, where the '''E''' signifies Exponentiation . Occasionally the phrase is modified to '''M'''y '''D'''ear '''M'''other's '''A'''unt '''S'''ally, with the second M standing for Modulo ; this is more often seen in the context of programming languages, where the modulo operation is more common.
- Many secondary school students remember the basic trigonometric functions with the phrase ''SOH-CAH-TOA'' (pronounced "soak a toe-uh").
... '''S'''ine = '''O'''pposite leg divided by the '''H'''ypotenuse
'''CAH''' ... '''C'''osine = '''A'''djacent leg divided by the '''H'''ypotenuse
'''TOA''' ... '''T'''angent = '''O'''pposite leg divided by the '''A'''djacent leg.
Mnemonics for remembering ''SOH-CAH-TOA'' include:
- ---addle '''O'''ur '''H'''orses, '''C'''anter '''A'''way '''H'''appily '''T'''oward '''O'''ther '''A'''dventures
- ---ally '''C'''an '''T'''ell : '''O'''scar '''H'''as '''A''' '''H'''ard '''O'''n '''A'''lways (as popularized at Cincinnati's )
- ---ome '''O'''ld '''H'''ippie '''C'''aught '''A'''nother '''H'''ippie '''T'''ripping '''O'''n '''A'''cid
- ---ix '''O'''verweight '''H'''effalumps '''C'''ame '''A'''nd '''H'''eavily '''T'''rod '''O'''n '''A'''rthur.
'''O'''scar '''H'''ad '''A''' '''H'''eap '''O'''f '''A'''pples also works if you can remember the sine, cosine, tangent order.
- ---"ne '''H'''opes, '''A'''nd '''H'''opes, n '''A'''merica" was widely taught to British schoolchildren during World War II (the sine-cosine-tangent order was presumed). Not only was it a good mnemonic, it also served to reassure the children that Great Britain was not doomed to Nazi annihilation.
On a lighter note if one can remember that Santa Claus says "Ho Ho" and then place the three (Sine Cosine and Tangent) in alphabetical order C S T with A at beginning and A at end we have:
A HO HO A and C S T. Now simply read these in order and you have: C(theta)= A/H S(theta)=O/H T(theta)=O/A
- For remembering the order of taking the derivative of a quotient in calculus, the phrase "ho-di-hi, hi-di-ho, hoho" can be useful, where ho means the bottom, hi means the top, and di means the derivative. So,
- The fake name helps us to remember the order of the Color s in the Spectrum . In England " Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain" is popular ('''R'''ed, '''O'''range, '''Y'''ellow, '''G'''reen, '''B'''lue, '''I'''ndigo, '''V'''iolet). In an alternate version, "Battle" is replaced with "Birth".
- A mnemonic used by physics students to remember the Maxwell Relations in Thermodynamics is "ood '''P'''hysicists '''H'''ave '''S'''tudied '''U'''nder '''V'''ery '''F'''ine '''T'''eachers", which helps them remember the order of the variables in the square, in clockwise direction. Another mnemonic used here is "'''V'''alid '''F'''acts and '''T'''heoretical '''U'''nderstanding enerate '''S'''olutions to '''H'''ard '''P'''roblems", which gives the letter in the normal left to right writing direction.
- The Group XVIII inert gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon) may be recalled by the sentence "aven '''Ne'''ver '''Ar'''sked '''Kr'''iegspiel's '''eX'''tra '''R'''e'''n'''t"
- The phrase "We guarantee certainty, clearly referring to this light mnemonic." represents the Speed Of Light in Meters per Second through the number of letters in each word: 299792458.
- "ids '''H'''ave '''D'''ropped '''O'''ver '''D'''ead '''C'''onverting '''M'''etrics" is an effective mnemonic for helping remember the basic Metric system prefixes of "ilo '''H'''ecto '''D'''eca '''O'''(base unit) '''D'''eci '''C'''enti '''M'''illi"
- The 25-pair Color Code used for telephone wiring can be memorized using the following mnemonics:
- ---Ring colors: ell '''O'''perators '''G'''ive etter '''S'''ervice
- ---Tip colors: hy '''R'''un '''B'''ackwards? '''Y'''ou'll '''V'''omit
- "DOC" represents phases of the Moon by shape: "D" is the waxing moon; "O" the full moon; and "C" the waning moon. In the Southern hemisphere, this is reversed, and the mnemonic is "COD". A French mnemonic is that the waxing moon at its first "premier" quarter phase looks like a 'p', and the waning moon at its last "dernier" quarter looks like a 'd'. In German, the Moon is compared to a handwritten small letter ''a'' for "Abnehmen" (waning) and a ''z'' for "Zunehmen" (waxing). One more (Northern hemisphere) mnemonic, which works for most Romance languages, says that the Moon is a liar: it spells "C", as in crescere (Italian for "to grow") when it wanes, and "D" as in decrescere ("decrease") when it waxes.
- "Red, right, return" used to remember which Sea Mark denotes which side of a sailing channel.
- On the other hand, "there´s always some red port (wine) left" is also used to remember the basics in sea faring.
- Let's not forget the word that reminds us that the best plan is usually a simple plan: K-I-S-S (Keep it Simple, Stupid!)
- To remember which way to tighten a screw: "righty tighty, lefty loosey"
- The major planets of our solar system (I know, the Sun is not a planet)
un, '''M'''ercury, '''V'''enus, '''E'''arth, '''M'''ars, '''J'''upiter, aturn, '''U'''ranus, '''N'''eptune, '''P'''luto
hirley '''M'''cLane '''V'''omits '''E'''very '''M'''orning, '''J'''immy tewart '''U'''sually '''N'''ever '''P'''ukes
- Many young Australia n, Kiwi and British children remember the compass points in order in clockwise with the phrase ever '''E'''at '''S'''oggy '''W'''eet-bix, or ever '''E'''at '''S'''hredded '''W'''heat (North, East, South, West). Weet-bix and Shredded Wheat are popular breakfast cereals in Australia, New Zealand and Britain. Another variation is ever '''E'''ver '''S'''moke '''W'''eed. In the United States , school children are often taught with the phrase ever '''E'''at '''S'''oggy '''W'''affles or ever '''E'''at '''S'''our '''W'''orms, whereas a Canadian rendition is ever '''E'''at '''S'''oggy '''W'''ieners.
- The Acronym is also a mnemonic aid that can be used to remember the names of the North American Great Lakes (''H''uron, ''O''ntario, ''M''ichigan, ''E''rie, ''S''uperior). '''SMHEO''' is also useful to remember their positions from North to South, "'''S'''uper '''M'''an '''H'''elps '''E'''very '''O'''ne" to remember their positions from West to East, and if you like, "'''S'''am's '''H'''orse '''M'''ust '''E'''at '''O'''ats" helps one to remember their ordering by size from largest to smallest. The Canadian lakes can be noted as ''SHOE''.(See if you can find others!)
- The Dutch Antilles can be remembered by thinking of the ''Leeward Islands'' as the ABC Islands and of the ''Windward Islands'' as the SSS Islands .
- : The ''SSS islands'' are part of what are in English called the Leeward Islands , but in e.g. French , Spanish , German , Dutch and the English spoken locally these are considered part of the ''Windward Islands''.
- The nations of Central America can be remembered (in order north to south) by "Better Go Home Every Night Completely Paid".(Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama)
- To help remember whether you lose time or gain it,: EWG and WEL. East to West Gains and West to East Loses
- How to set your clock to accommodate the shift to and from daylight savings time: "Spring forward. Fall back."
- A mnemonic to remember different ranks of generals in the U.S. Military is "e '''M'''y '''L'''ittle '''G'''eneral" for rigadier General (one star), '''M'''ajor General (two stars), '''L'''ieutenant General (three stars), and '''G'''eneral (four stars).
- Beginning music students trying to memorize the notes of the staff using the mnemonics "very '''G'''ood '''B'''oy '''D'''oes '''F'''ine", "mpty '''G'''arbage '''B'''efore '''D'''ad '''F'''reaks", "very '''G'''ood '''B'''oy '''D'''eserves '''F'''udge" (or, in Britain, "very '''G'''ood '''B'''oy '''D'''eserves '''F'''avour" - also the title of a Play with music by Tom Stoppard and Andre Previn ), and "'''FACE'''" for the lines and spaces of the Treble Clef respectively. The Bass Clef equivalents are "'''G'''ood '''B'''oys '''D'''o '''F'''ine '''A'''lways" or "'''G'''ood '''B'''oys '''D'''eserve '''F'''ine '''A'''pples" or "'''G'''reat '''B'''ig '''D'''ogs '''F'''ight '''A''' lot" for lines, and "'''A'''ll '''C'''ows at '''G'''rass" or "'''A'''ll '''C'''ars at '''G'''as" for spaces.
- : This method of "remembering" note positions on treble and bass clefs will lead to problems later on in music study. It is much better to learn the note positions on the Grand Staff as a whole and regard the treble and bass Clefs as markers.
- The strings on a six-string guitar with standard tuning can be remembered using the mnemonics: "lephants '''A'''nd '''D'''onkeys '''G'''row '''B'''ig ars",
- The Circle Of Fifths can be remembered using the mnemonic orty '''C'''ats '''G'''oing '''D'''own '''A'''n '''E'''mpty '''B'''arrel, red '''C'''an '''G'''et '''D'''rugs '''A'''t '''E'''ast '''B'''oston, at '''C'''ats '''G'''o '''D'''own '''A'''lleys '''E'''ating '''B'''irds or at '''C'''icks '''G'''o '''D'''ancing '''A'''t '''E'''very '''B'''ar.
- The spelling of 'Rhythm' can be remembered as "hythm '''H'''elps '''Y'''our '''T'''wo '''H'''ips '''M'''ove."
- If the student wants to remember the order in which sharps go, i.e. F# then F# and C# then F# and C# and G#. The mnemonic is "ather '''C'''hristmas '''G'''ave '''D'''ad '''A'''n '''E'''lectric '''B'''lanket". Similarly if they wish to remember the order of the flats, the mnemonics -"'''BEAD''' '''G'''lass '''C'''uts ingers," "'''B'''lanket '''E'''xplodes '''A'''nd '''D'''ad '''G'''ets '''C'''old eet" and "'''B'''attle '''E'''nds '''A'''nd '''D'''own '''G'''oes '''C'''harles' ather", are used. Handily, when reversed, this creates the sharps list.
- The rhyme Thirty Days Hath September is commonly used as a mnemonic for the number of days in the months of the year. If the rhyme is too much effort, then it might be sufficient to remember that July is named for Julius Caesar , and that August is named for Augustus Caesar , both of whom were popular leaders of ancient Rome. Thus, they both were entitled by Fiat to have a 31 day month, and the rest of the months fall into an alternating 30-31 pattern, with the exception of February, which at one time was the last month of the year. Thus proceeding as if March was the beginning of the year, the month of September becomes the seventh month, October the eighth month, November the ninth month and December the tenth month, in accordance with the Latin prefixes from which the names of these months are derived. Thus March, April, May, June, and July belong to Julius Caesar and have a 31-30-31-30-31 pattern. Likewise August, September, October, November and December are associated with Augustus Caesar and form a second 31-30-31-30-31 pattern. January, associated with the less memorable Janus, was once along with February at the end of the year, but now these two months form another pattern that starts with 31, but which is then terminated at the end of February, which by the original Roman Calendar would have begun a new year.
- Another mnemonic for the days of the months is not a rhyme or a Jingle , but a Gestalt . Whereas the traditional mnemonic simply associates the ''name'' of the month with the number of days, this one emphasizes the ''sequence.'' The 31 and less-than-31-day months would be easy to remember if they simply alternated, but the pattern of month lengths is not that simple. They alternate until the fourth 31-day month, July, which is immediately followed by another 31-day month. Since the human hand has four fingers, one can, given an appropriate mind-set, perceive this pattern in a view of the knuckles of two fists, held together. The raised knuckles can be seen as the 31-day months, the dips between them as the 30-day-months-and-February, and the gap between the hands ignored. (Thus: left-hand-pinky-knuckle = January, dip = February, left-hand-ring-knuckle = March, dip = April, and so on to left-hand-index-knuckle = July; then continue with right-hand-index-knuckle = August, dip = September, etc).
:
- The Dominical Letter s for the years 1630, 1730, 1830, and 1930, taken in that order, spell "FACE". This can be remembered by the mnemonic "dirty face" (for "'30 FACE").
Many tournament Scrabble players employ Anamonics , a form of initialization mnemonic, for the purposes of learning and quickly recalling sets of acceptable words. An anamonic consists of a "stem" (usually of six or seven letters), paired with a semantically related phrase, in which each letter of the phrase can be added to the stem and rearranged to form at least one acceptable word. For example, if a player has the tiles ACDEIRT on her rack, and recalls the anamonic "DICE-ART = casino math diploma", she will know precisely which letters may be played through to form 8-letter words, and will hopefully be aided in finding the words: ACCREDIT, RADICATE, ACRIDEST, RATICIDE, DICENTRA, CERATOID, TIMECARD, CITRATED/TETRACID/TETRADIC, TRACHEID, READDICT, PICRATED, and ARTICLED/LACERTID.
A curious characteristic of many memory systems is that mnemonic devices work despite being (or possibly because of being) illogical, arbitrary, and artistically flawed. "Roy" is a legitimate first name, but there is no actual surname "Biv" and of course the middle initial "G" is arbitrary. Why is "Roy G. Biv" easy to remember? Medical students never forget the arbitrary nationalities of the Finn and German. Any two of the three months ending in -ember would fit just as euphoniously as September and November in "Thirty days hath...", yet most people can remember the rhyme correctly for a lifetime after having heard it once, and are never troubled by doubts as to ''which'' two of the -ember months have thirty days. A bizarre arbitrary association may stick in the mind better than a logical one.
One reason for the effectiveness of seemingly arbitrary mnemonics is the grouping of information provided by the mnemonic. Just as US phone numbers group 10 digits into three groups, the name "Roy G. Biv" groups seven colors into two short names and an initial. Various studies (most notably The Magical Number Seven, Plus Or Minus Two ) have shown that the human brain is capable of remembering only a limited number of arbitrary items; grouping these items into chunks permits the brain to hold more of them in memory.
In Assembly Language a mnemonic is a code, usually from 1 to 5 letters, that represents an Opcode , a number.
Programming in machine code, by supplying the computer with the numbers of the operations it must perform, can be quite a burden, because for every operation the corresponding number must be looked up or remembered. Looking up all numbers takes a lot of time, and mis-remembering a number may introduce Computer Bug s.
Therefore a set of mnemonics was devised. Each number was represented by an alphabetic code. So instead of entering the number corresponding to addition to add two numbers one can enter "add".
Although mnemonics differ between different CPU Design s some are common, for instance: "sub" (subtract), "div" (divide), "add" (add) and "mul" (multiply).
This type of mnemonic is different from the ones listed above in that instead of a way to make remembering numbers easier, it is a way to make remembering numbers unnecessary (by relying on some external way to tie each mnemonic to a number).
See the Method Of Loci .
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