The Number/Shape Mnemonic

The Number/Shape system is very similar to the Number/Rhyme system.

It's a very simple and effective way of remembering a list in a specific order. It's another example of a "peg" system based on memorable images.

How to Use the Number/Shape Mnemonic

In the Number/Shape mnemonic, each number from 1-10 is assigned an image, based on its shape.

You can pick anything that comes to mind, as long as it's not too similar to one of the other images you've chosen.

For example:

1. Candle, spear, stick.
2. Swan (beak, curved neck, body).
3. Bifocal glasses, or part of a "love heart."
4. Sail of a yacht.
5. A meat hook, or a seahorse facing right.
6. A musical note.
7. A cliff edge.
8. An egg timer.
9. A balloon with a string attached, flying freely.
10. A golfer (with a golf club and ball).

Then you can link these images to the items on a numbered list. Use your imagination to make the images and connections as vivid and memorable as you can.

Finally, by thinking of your ten number/shape images, you should be able to remember the ten items you linked them with.

Example

Here's how you could use the Number/Shape mnemonic to learn a list of thinkers: Spinoza, Locke, Hume, Berkeley, Kant, Rousseau, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Darwin, and Marx.

1. Spinoza – a large CANDLE starting to SPIN.
2. Locke – a SWAN trying to pick a LOCK with its wing.
3. Hume – BIFOCALS being worn by a HUMan.
4. Berkeley – a SAIL covered in BURRs in the LEE of a cliff.
5. Kant – a HOOK piercing a tin CAN.
6. Rousseau – fast MUSIC playing while a kangaROO SEWs furiously.
7. Hegel – a villain about to be pushed over a CLIFF, HAGGLing to try to escape his fate.
8. Kierkegaard – a large EGG TIMER containing Captain KIRK and a GUARD from the starship Enterprise.
9. Darwin – a BALLOON floating over the city of DARWIN, Australia.
10. Marx – a golfer using white MARKS on the golf course to line up his shot.