What are mnemonics? They are "a system of principles and formulas designed to assist or improve the memory." (Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary 1980.)           Traditionally people tend to define mnemonics as ideas turned into memorable acronyms. For example, to remember the Great Lakes located along the border between Canada and the United States one can think of a picture HOMES resting along the shore of the lakes. HOMES would be mnemonics to help your to remember that the names of the five Great Lakes are Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior.                                                                                         The problem with depending solely on acronyms is that if you remember HOUSES or COTTAGES instead of the word HOMES you are going to have difficulty remembering names of the Great Lakes.