A mnemonic for the order of CSS margin and padding shorthand properties

Question

I can never remember the order of the shorthand property for setting the margin or padding in one declaration. That is:

margin-top:    2px;
margin-bottom: 4px;
margin-left:   3px;
margin-right:  8px;

may be written as

margin: 2px 8px 4px 3px;

Yes I understand that one can visualise the order by thinking of a clock, starting at midday and moving clockwise. But I keep forgetting about that. I need to recall the order top, right, bottom, left textually.

Hence, T B L R T R B L.

Something like This [R-noun] [B-verb] [L-nouns] is perhaps the way to go but I feel myself lacking inspiration. If anyone has come across a useful mnemonic for this I'd love to hear it. Like a good meme, I'm sure once I get something lodged in my brain I will be unlikely to forget it.

NOTE: This question gave incorrect information - the order (as noted in some of the comments and answers) is Top Right Bottom Left. (heh, see what I mean? -- dland)

Answer 1

If you don't get it right, there will be TRouBLe

Answer 2

Actually the clock thing works perfectly. It is the most intuitive way to remember it, at least for me.

Answer 3

Tricky Rectangle Border Logic ?

Answer 4

Why don't just remember that the order goes clockwise starting from the TOP:

TOP -> RIGHT -> BOTTOM -> LEFT

Answer 5

Another attempt:

Tyrannosaurus Rex : Big Lizard

Answer 6

Just think clockwise, it's the easiest way. Starts at the top and goes around... much easier to remember than some silly phrase (provided you know how to read a clock...)

Answer 7

The Really Big Lebowski

Answer 8

T R o u B L e.

Answer 9

Timewise Rotation, Bit Lame?

Answer 10

Try Roast Beef Leftovers ?

Answer 11

"Top,Right,Bottom,Left"
Really
Bad
Limerick

Answer 12

TRouBLe is best for me. And if only 3 values are shown, it's Top, Sides, Bottom - which for UK users spells TSB (the bank the government had to bail out using our money) - so TRouBLe and TSB are closely linked!

Answer 13

TROUBLE is always a secondary reminder for me, since I first think of the clockwise direction but might need to remember where you start; however, the 3-value shorthand was always confusing me until I realized the middle, (or second) value needs to represent two values (the sides). So, three values - the 2nd being 2 values - helps me remember that.

Answer 14

The clock trick works for the 4 number shortcut, but is there any logic to the 3 and 2 number shortcuts? 1 number and it applies to everything, and that makes sense, but

1 = (T/R/b/l) 
2 = (T=b) (R=l)   
3 = (T) (R=l) (b)  
4 = (T) (R) (b) (l)

It just doesn't seem logical at all. But... First value pertains to Top, Second pertains to the Right, Third is the bottom and Fourth is the left; A number is not specified if it's the same as its opposite. Horizontal and vertical MUST be declared unless all values are identical.

In other words, you always specify the Top and Right values, bottom and left fall in as required.

Answer 15

Think that you're reading Arabii or Hebrew: read from the top of the page, right to left to the bottom. ;P The good thing about this "rule" is that it works for the 3 value version too: top right-and-left bottom

Actually, i allso thought it was hard to remember, but as soon as I discovered it was the direction of the clock it was easier.

Answer 16

It is

top
right 
bottom 
left

not what you have

Think Right Before you Leap

Answer 17

*T*op *R*amen, *B*ottom, *L*unch

Answer 18

Remember driving lesson:

Turn Right Before Left

Answer 19

Theres always the town of TRumBuLl Connecticut

Answer 20

If you're old enough to remember the original Star Trek TV series (you know, with Capt Kirk), well first of all, you're too damn old. But there is "The Trouble with Tribbles" episode. Both nouns in the title work. I've used that in the past, but also prefer the clock analogy.

Answer 21

Whenever you strike with a given situation, just think of a clock-wise rotation i.e., way the clock rotates from 0 to 60 in a circular rotation.

Clock thing is easier to remember than the word TRouBLe (as marked answer) in my opinion since the word trouble belongs to English language and all those minds native to English language might find it easier to remember the word TRouBLe in relevancy to the given situation but not others who only use English language when they really have to.

Same is not true with clock-wise rotation of a clock, when it comes to remembering something (as asked it the question) since clock-wise-rotation is a very well-known phenomena world-wise.