A method, system and apparatus for automatically assigning mnemonics to text strings in a GUI are provided. First, all text strings used in the GUI that are associated with controls requiring mnemonics are stored in a table. Then using common assignment rules, each text string is automatically assigned a unique mnemonic. Text strings that are generally assigned particular mnemonics (i.e., standard mnemonics) are assigned those standard mnemonics. Each mnemonic used is registered into another table to ensure against duplication of mnemonics.