An acronym is a word formed from the first letters or groups of letters in a name or phrase. An acrostic is a series of lines from which particular letters (such as the first letters of all lines) from a word or phrase. These can be used as mnemonic devices by taking the first letters of words or names that need to be remembered and developing an acronym or acrostic.

• To be remembered: The planets, in order of their distance from the sun: Mecurey, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
  Mnemonic Device: MVEMJSUNP = My Very Earnest Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles
• To be remembered: The colors of the rainbow, in order: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.
  Mnemonic Device: ROY G. BIV (A made-up name) - OR - Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain
• To be remembered: The Great Lakes, from west to east: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior
  Mnemonic Device: Some Men Hat Each Other. - OR - (not in order) HOMES
• To be remembered: The lines of the treble staff - EGBDF
  Mnemonic Device: Every Good Boy Does Fine - OR - Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
• To be remembered: The spaces of the base staff: ACEG
  Mnemonic Device: All Cows Eat Grass

Do you know an acronym or acrostic mnemonic device that is not on this list? Tell us about it!