# Silly mnemonics to remember things you ought to know anyway **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 15, 2000, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463 "2000-06-15T11:20:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/41 "2000-06-18T01:00:48Z")
I learned FOIL as well, though I didn’t exactly need reminding to do a job throughly in math class. I enjoyed it. Sorry, some people are weird like that. Once upon a time I made some mnemonic device for remembering Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Verb, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, Interjection-the eight parts of speech. I also learned HOUSE to remember the great lakes. However, all the acronyms around on the internet have long since replaced the ones I learned in grade school. And, somewhat OT, at some point during my frosh year of high school I came across the following math fact: Given that y=x+1, y^2=x^2+x+y+1 I can’t count the number of quickies I’ve been able to do (in math!) because of that little thing. Allows me, for example, to save time on one problem and move on to the next. ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/42 "2000-06-18T01:24:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > I’m surprised no one did this one yet. > > stalaGmite - on the Ground > > stalaCtite - on the Ceiling > \*\* I remember them by “stalactites hang tight, stalagmites wish they might” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/43 "2000-06-18T02:34:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > The OSI communication layers: Apple Pie Stays Trendy, Never Dated, Phil. > > Now I just don’t remember what they stand for. Hmmm, Apple for Application, Dated for Data, Phil for Physical… Nope, that’s all I can remember. > \*\* That’s for Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Datalink, and Physical. My all-time favorite was from 9th grade biology: I Put My Ass Together Interphase, Peta(?)phase, Mesophase, Anaphase, Telophase ---
**Author:** ![flup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@flup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flup)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/44 "2000-06-18T03:46:53Z")
I use KMATPOLMOAU (AYHTATALOA) for "kicks more ass then a paralyzed, one-legged monkey on a unicycle (and you have to admit, that’s a lot of ass). But it’s trademarked ( [http://www.tt3.org](http://www.tt3.org) ) so none of you are allowed to use it. sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Kiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d78d45/32.png) [@Kiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiva)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/45 "2000-06-18T07:18:09Z")
For my Hinduism final on Wednesday, I invented: Baseballs Kill Very Stupid Catchers to help me remember the names of the different caste levels: Brahmin Kshatriya Vaishya Sudra Candala (yeah, yeah, not technically part of the system) The question wasn’t even on the test. ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/46 "2000-06-18T14:02:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > I remember them by “stalactites hang tight, stalagmites wish they might” > \*\* Ever the one to see the ruder side of life, I remembered that when the tites come down, the mites go up. \*\* KarlGauss wrote: Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel A Girl’s Vagina, Ah Heavenly! \*\* LOL! One i learnt for the hazards of intravenous cannulation: ET Has VD E = extravasation T = thrombophlebitis H = haematoma V = venous air embolism D = disconnection with haemorrhage from veins ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/47 "2000-06-18T16:49:02Z")
I learned the color codes on resistor bands as Bad Beer Rots Our Young Guts But Vodka Goes Well. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/48 "2000-06-18T17:50:03Z")
The Planets: “Mother Very Easily Made Jam Sandwiches Using No Peanuts, Mayonaisse and Glue.” ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/49 "2000-06-18T18:18:42Z")
**You all should be very thankful I cannot locate the lyrics to the song that is nothing but dozens of mnemonics for the spectral class sequence, all to the tune of "Stars and Stripes Forever."** I can sing the 16 counties of the state of Maine to the tune of “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/50 "2000-06-18T23:18:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > The Planets: > > Mayonaisse and Glue." > > \*\* Two more planets??? ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/51 "2000-06-18T23:26:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Two more planets??? > \*\* Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Mickey and Goofy. ---
**Author:** ![TaleraRis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@TaleraRis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaleraRis)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/52 "2000-06-19T06:40:36Z")
I think all these have been mentioned, but I’ll say them again King Phillip Came Over From Germany Stoned - Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species - and yes, that is exactly how my teacher taught us Roy G Biv - you should know that one 😛 Treble Clef - Every Good Boy Does Fine, F A C E Bass Clef - All Cows Eat Grass, Good Boys Deserve Fudge Always And I too was a subscriber to SOHCATOA (I think that was it) - tells how much it helped me that I can’t even remember it 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/53 "2000-06-19T08:03:12Z")
BAD Moderator!! No troll meat for YOU tonite! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/54 "2000-06-19T08:25:42Z")
For the church modes: I Don’t Particularly Like Modes Anyway Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Myxolydian, Aeolian rivulus ---
**Author:** ![xekul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/838e76/32.png) [@xekul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xekul)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/55 "2000-06-19T19:53:06Z")
Loss of Electron: Oxidation. Gain of Electron: Reduction. Works for me… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/56 "2000-06-19T20:05:24Z")
The train stations between Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr: Old Maids Never Wed And Have Babies (Overbrook, Merion, Narberth, Wynnewood, Ardmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr). I’ve used that one since I was a kid—little did I know it would become my autobiography! ---
**Author:** ![JPetraliaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e68b1a/32.png) [@JPetraliaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JPetraliaX)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/57 "2000-06-19T20:07:42Z")
Math Mnemonics: SOHCAHTOA Sin=Opp/Hyp Cos=Adj/Hyp Tan=Opp/Adj I like this one better though: Some Old Hippie Caught Another Hippie Tripping On Acid Sin Opp Hyp Cos Adj Hyp Tan Opp Adj Cool, eh? PEMDAS (Order of Operations) Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction. There’s also “Please Excuse my Dear Aunt Sally” for this LIATE (Integration by parts) This one helps you pick what to use for your u, and your dv. L=Log I=Inverse Trig A=Algebra T=Trig E=Exponent I had a little trouble remembering it, so I made it into “Lincoln Is A Tremendous Emancipator” Yes…I made that up, isn’t it great? (BdT-TdB)/B^2 (Quotient Rule for Derivatives)…I don’t know of one…somebody help me… I had a bunch for like Hero’s rule, and stuff, but I don’t think they could have been that great if I didn’t remember them… ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/58 "2000-06-19T21:28:59Z")
And there were never very many times when I needed to know more than about 3.14 anyway and didn’t have my calculator(which still knows more digits than I do). ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/59 "2000-06-19T21:29:12Z")
And there were never very many times when I needed to know more than about 3.14 anyway and didn’t have my calculator(which still knows more digits than I do). ---
**Author:** ![MadPoet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MadPoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPoet)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463/60 "2000-06-19T23:48:31Z")
From my sister’s guitar instructor: Ever Acid Dealer Gets Busted Eventually. Or my revised one, Bet Every Acid Dealer Gets Caught. I play bass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-mnemonics-to-remember-things-you-ought-to-know-anyway/22463.md?page=4)