the eminent derbyshire expert on stalactites, steph, shares her keen insight on how to remember which is a stalagmite and which is a stalactite. here is an excerpt of her correspondence.

 

When I was a young thing, we were taught in school to remember them by a handy little saying:
"Tites hang down and mites grow up".

Being an international simien, I'm sure you know that in the UK "tights" are what you call pantyhose, and we were encouraged to picture a pair of tights on the washing line - hanging down, of course. I hasten to add, I went to an all-girls school.

"Mites" is a term used for anything small, and frequently "little mite" is said, endearingly, of a small child - so "mites grow up".

so, there you have the definitive method to remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites as well as a bit of insight into the rich english language. who doesn't feel a wee bit more international after that thoughtful note? i know i do!

this just in: liz writes that she learned to remember stalagmites have an m in them just like mountain! mountains rise up form the earth and so do stalagmites. i think i feel an interpretive dance coming on!