What Is the “Rule of Three” — A Literary Writing Technique

The Rule of Three is one of the most important rules in writing—but what exactly is the Rule of Three? We’ll explore this engaging and practical rule by analyzing examples in sentences, situations, and stories. Treat this article as a reference guide you can turn to whenever you hit a writing block.

Why Is the Rule of Three Important?

It influences everything from sentence structure to plot. More importantly, it has become an innate communication pattern for people around the world. We’ll look at these rules one by one, but first let’s define the Rule of Three.

What Is the Rule of Three?

The Rule of Three is a narrative principle which holds that people more easily understand concepts, situations, and ideas when they come in groups of three. Over time, anthropologists have confirmed that this rule is an archetypal principle that applies on three levels: sentence, situation, and story.

Subtypes of the Rule of Three

• Three words expressing the same idea (“life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”)

• Tricolon: used when three parallel elements have a similar number of words or syllables (“veni, vedi, vici”; “I came, I saw, I conquered”)

So we know this rule is an important writing principle, but how exactly is it applied at the three levels of sentence, situation, and story?

The Rule Applies to Sentences

This rule is perhaps most commonly used in sentences. You might feel it’s a bit contrived, but in practice it’s almost always satisfying.

For example, in our article on “The Scorpion and the Frog,” there’s a sentence: “The story of ‘The Scorpion and the Frog’ can be used to demonstrate, subvert, and communicate character archetypes.”

In this example, the sentence uses the rule to emphasize three action verbs: demonstrate, subvert, and communicate. However, the rule doesn’t have to use action verbs; it can also use nouns.

Take this example from our article on John Carpenter’s best films: “His stories explore the dark side of the unknown, the hubris of man’s institutions, and the middle ground where science and the spiritual world meet.”

Let’s put those nouns in bold: the dark side of the unknown, the hubris of human institutions, and the middle ground where science and the spiritual world meet. It sounds very smooth.

You may also notice this rule in marketing. Here are some examples from taglines and film titles that use the Rule of Three:

• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

• Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

• Stop, Look and Listen

• Sex, Lies and Videotape

• Snap! Crackle! Pop!

All in all, the rule is a key part of crafting polished titles and sentences. When you write, keep it in mind to make your prose flow more smoothly.

The Rule Makes Situations More Complex

How many times have you seen a character in a movie or TV show outline the villain’s plan in a three-part list?

“He’s going to attack the princess’s transport, capture her, and then destroy her home planet.”

We see this not only in Star Wars, but in almost every story known to humankind. When using the Rule of Three to describe a situation, be sure to save the most important part for last.

Think about it: you don’t want to put the most important point first, because then the next two will feel trivial.

Sometimes the most important point is actually the easiest to forget. In the Star Wars script, Obi-Wan Kenobi describes Anakin Skywalker as “the best starpilot in the galaxy, a cunning warrior, and a good friend.”

“The best starpilot in the galaxy” sounds like the most important, but in fact “a good friend” is the real key. Lucas cleverly uses the number three to create a resonant emotional tone.

The Rule Elaborates Plot Structure

The rule is also the cornerstone of the ancient three-act structure. The three‑act structure holds that any story works best when it’s composed of three parts: beginning, middle, and end.

The logic of trailer editing structure

The power of three also appears on the macro level, such as in character relationships. Here are some common examples:

• The Three Musketeers

• The Three Little Pigs

• The Three Stooges

• The three visits to the thatched cottage

• Harry, Ron, and Hermione (Harry Potter)

• Luke, Leia, and Han Solo (Star Wars)

• Bella, Edward, and Jacob (Twilight)

• The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (A Christmas Carol)

Some of the most famous character relationships in history are based on “three.” There are three ways to depict a trio of characters: the first is to place all three on the same side (for example, “The Three Wise Men”). The second is to have conflict erupt between the three characters, as with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The third is to create a love triangle among them, as with Bella, Edward, and Jacob. The only difference between the second and third approaches is whether romance is involved.

The examples in this article are just a few of the ways to use this rule. Next time you read an article or watch a movie, pay attention to how the author applies it—you’ll likely learn something new about narrative patterns.