What Are Mnemonics?
Mnemonics are memory aids that help people remember information more easily. They can be used to recall facts, figures, and concepts in a variety of fields including mathematics, science, history, geography and language. Mnemonic devices use associations between easy-to-remember constructs such as rhyming words or acronyms with the difficult material that needs to be remembered. For example, one popular mnemonic for remembering the order of operations in math is “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” (Parentheses Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction).
Mnemonics can also involve visual imagery or mental images which link pieces of information together in an organized way. This type of mnemonic device is often used when memorizing lists or sequences like the planets in our solar system (My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas) or musical notes on a staff (Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge). By creating vivid mental pictures linking each item on the list it becomes easier to recall them all at once without having to go through them one by one.