Mnemonic devices: 7 memory phrases to learn lists by heart
A mnemonic links a list you must remember to a phrase whose words start with the same letters as the items to recall. Here are 7 classic lists, each with a memory phrase.
What is the order of the planets from the Sun?
From the Sun outwards : Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Memory phrase:MyVeryEducatedMotherJustServedUsNachos
Initials: M V E M J S U N
Eight planets: Pluto has no longer been classed as a planet since 2006, when the International Astronomical Union put it among the dwarf planets.
What are the colours of the rainbow, in order?
From the outside of the arc inwards : red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
Memory phrase:RichardOfYorkGaveBattleInVain
Initials: R O Y G B I V
Tradition counts seven colours, from red to violet, but the eye sees no sharp borders between them: the rainbow is a continuous gradient.
What are the ranks of biological classification?
From the broadest to the most precise, after the domain : Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
Memory phrase:KingPhilipCameOverForGoodSoup
Initials: K P C O F G S
Above the kingdom, modern classification places the domain, which makes eight ranks in all.
In which order do you read the compass points?
Clockwise, starting from the top : North, East, South, West.
Memory phrase:NeverEatShreddedWheat
Initials: N E S W
North is at the top of a map, east on the right, south at the bottom and west on the left.
In which order do sharps appear in a key signature?
In the order the sharps appear : F, C, G, D, A, E, B.
Memory phrase:FatherCharlesGoesDownAndEndsBattle
Initials: F C G D A E B
Each new sharp is added after the previous ones: a key signature with three sharps has F, C and G.
In which order do flats appear in a key signature?
In the order the flats appear : B, E, A, D, G, C, F.
Memory phrase:BattleEndsAndDownGoesCharlesFather
Initials: B E A D G C F
It is exactly the reverse of the sharps: if sharps run from F to B, flats run from B to F.
What are the values of the Roman numerals, from largest to smallest?
From largest to smallest : M, D, C, L, X, V, I.
Memory phrase:MyDogCanLickXylophonesVeryImpolitely
Initials: M D C L X V I
M is 1,000, D is 500, C is 100, L is 50, X is 10, V is 5 and I is 1.
How do I make my own memory phrase?
Write down the initials of the list in order, then look for words starting with those letters to build a strange or funny sentence: the more absurd the picture, the longer it sticks. A phrase you invent yourself is remembered better than someone else's. The phrases on this page are starting points, all checked letter by letter.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mnemonic device?
A mnemonic device is a technique that helps you remember information by linking it to a phrase, an image or an acronym that is easier to memorise. Phrases in which each word starts with the initial of a list item are the most common example.
Do mnemonics work for remembering everything?
No, they mainly help with ordered lists that have no obvious logic, such as the planets or key signatures. They do not replace understanding, and regular recall is still needed for the phrase to stay in memory.
How can I make sure I remember these phrases?
Recite them without rereading, then come back to them at increasingly spaced intervals. Mnemoz spaced review and the site quizzes let you test yourself on these lists.
What next?
A memory phrase sticks better when you recite it and then revisit it at spaced intervals. Test yourself next on our quizzes, or train your memory with the words-to-remember game.