Turn any number into a sentence

How the sentence hides the number

The sentence is built on the Major System, which gives every digit a consonant sound: 1 is T or D, 2 is N, 3 is M, and so on, with 0 as S or Z. Each bold word is the peg for one pair of digits on the 00 to 99 chart, so 13 is tomb and 07 is key, and the words in between are only there to make a scene. Read the bold words in order, turn each back into its two digits, and the number comes out.

Why a silly sentence sticks

A string of digits gives your memory nothing to hold, while a tomb tickling a tire is a picture you can see. The stranger the scene, the better it lasts, so press “Another sentence” until one makes you laugh, then picture it for a few seconds. Tomorrow, recall the scene first and the digits will follow.

Keep private numbers private

Anyone with the link can reveal the number with one tap, so share birthdays, favourite numbers and the digits of pi, not PINs or card numbers. To practise reading pegs quickly, try the timed number drill or the number memory test.