As we mentioned in yesterday’s post, it’s believed that your brain uses its “down time” to move information into long-term memory. This means that something you learn and memorize today won’t necessarily be correctly stored until enough time has gone by for this processing to happen. There are ways you can speed up the process and ensure more accurate recall (the Ultimate Memory system  is packed full of useful tools to improve your memory), but one basic way to memorize something is to use the repeat/rest/repeat pattern. Let’s look at the four words we listed in the last post, and use that method to learn them:

inequity (in-EH-kwih-tee) noun
This word comes from the Latin roots in- (“not”) and aequus, (“equal”) and refers to a situation or state that is out of balance or unfair to one side or another.
Example: Although the women’s rights movement has made great progress, there is still an inequity in the wages paid to women compared to those received by men.

antiquity (an-TIH-kwih-tee) noun
In general, a period in the far past, but often used to refer to ancient Greek or Roman civilizations. The word comes from the Latin antiquus (“ancient, former”) – apparently what’s old depends on your perspective!
Example: English Romantic poets like Blake, Shelley, and Keats drew much of their inspiration from the art and literature of antiquity.

propinquity (pro-PIN-kwih-tee) noun
Nearness, proximity; from the Latin propinquus (“neighboring”).
Example: The Hardings bought a house next to the movie star’s summer home, hoping that propinquity would give them some of the same fame and fortune.

ubiquity (you-BIH-kwih-tee) noun
Either seeming to be, or actually being, everywhere at once. This word comes from the Latin ubique, meaning “everywhere.” The adjective ubiquitous is more common.
Example: The travelers complained about the ubiquity of McDonalds and Starbucks in every city they visited, saying that local foods and culture were being driven out by commercial corporations.

You’ve probably noticed another pattern, that of pronunciation. Again, having this pattern will make it easier for you to memorize these words as a group. To implement the repeat/rest/repeat pattern, spend 15 minutes or so learning these words, using the tools we’ve talked about before: writing them down, saying them out loud, thinking about the etymology, looking for synonyms or similar words and concepts, and practicing using the words in sample sentences. Then put these words away, and give your brain a rest. Tomorrow, come back to the words and see if you can remember and use them correctly. If not, repeat the practice and rest again. By revisiting the words multiple times over the course of several days, you’ll lock the words firmly in your brain.

What tools do you use to improve your memory?