Let�s look at a couple of other powerful memory techniques that are time-tested and work well for short lists. Two of these methods are the Acronym Method and the Sentence Method.

The Acronym Method � You�ve probably used this method before and just didn�t know it. The Acronym Method takes the first letter of what you are trying to memorize and puts them into a word.

The Sentence Method � The Sentence Method is a cousin to the Acronym Method. You take the first letter (or an important letter) of the word you�re trying to memorize and form a sentence out of it.

Each of these techniques uses letters to form familiar images such as a word or sentence. Unlike the association techniques talked about earlier, the Letter Methods use more rote memorization.

However, if you take the Acronym and Sentence Method to higher level you can associate the final word or sentence with an image or series of images that will help you recall the information.

The Acronym Method � An Acronym is formed using the first letter of a word. We use acronyms daily but just don�t realize that they are �acronyms.� Some examples of common acronyms are NBA, which stands for the National Basketball Association or the word SCUBA, which is short for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

Let�s practice putting some acronyms together. Assume you had to memorize some of the following ideas in school:

Geology � Types of fossils, 1) Actual Remains, 2) Petrified, 3) Imprint and 4) Molds or casts. Take the first letters of each word and when put together they form APIM. Now lets reorganize these letters and make a word, or at least something that can be strongly related to a word. How about PAIM, which sounds almost like the word �pain?�

Religion � The famous reformers, 1) John Wesley, 2) John Calvin, 3) Martin Luther, 4) Ulrich Zwingli, 5) John Wycliffe. Take the first letters of each of the last names and put them together to form, WCLZW. Not only does this not spell anything, it has no vowels so it is impossible to form a sensible word. However, after we put a couple of vowels in and reorganize the letters we come up with the word �CoWLaWZ.�

What does the word cowlawz stand for? Nothing! But if you imagine the reformers as a herd of cows changing the laws of the Catholic Church it will remind you of �CoWLaWZ.�

The Sentence Method � Using the Sentence Method, a sentence is formed with the first letters of each word that is being memorized. This is good for longer lists as compared to the Acronym Method.

Let�s review some examples:

Anatomy � Skeletal bones, 1) Vertebrae, 2) Humerus, 3) Radius, 4) Ulna, 5) Carpals, 6) Femur, 7) Tibia, 8) Fibula and 9) Patella. Now we will try to make a sentence using the words that start with the first letters of the names of each bone. �Victor Hugged Rats Under the Carport the First Time Fred Panicked.�

History � Names of dinosaurs, 1) Plesiosaurus, 2) Tyrannosaurus Rex, 3) Brontosaurus, 4) Stegosaurus, 5) Velociraptor and 6) Pterandan. �Paul Toured Barcelona Singing Vibrant Praises.�

The Sentence Method is particularly helpful when you have to memorize things in a particular order. The Sentence Method is also much easier to develop somewhat logical phrases as compared to the Acronym Method.

Both the Acronym and Sentence Methods can be easy to develop and simple to remember, however, they aren�t as flexible as the association memory techniques. They don�t allow you to express images as well and humans think in images not words.

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