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

The Rule of Three is one of the most important principles in writing—but what exactly is it? We’ll explore this compelling and practical rule by analyzing examples in sentences, situations, and stories. Treat this article as a reference guide you can return 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 ingrained pattern of communication for people all over the world. We’ll examine these patterns 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 that suggests people find concepts, situations, and ideas easier to understand when they are grouped in threes. Over time, experts in anthropology have confirmed that this rule is an archetypal principle that applies on three levels: the sentence, the situation, and the story.

Subtypes of the Rule of Three

• Three words that express 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, vidi, vici”; “I came, I saw, I conquered”)

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

The Rule Applies to Sentences

This rule is perhaps most commonly used in sentences. It might seem forced at first, but in practice it’s almost always satisfying.

For example, in our article about “The Scorpion and the Frog,” we wrote: “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 rely on 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’ll also notice this rule in marketing. Here are some examples of 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!

In short, the Rule of Three is a key element in crafting polished titles and sentences. Keep it in mind while writing to make your prose more fluid and rhythmic.

The Rule Makes Situations More Compelling

How many times have you seen a character in a movie or TV show lay out the villain’s plan in three parts?

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

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

Think about it: you don’t want to put the most important point first, because that makes the next two feel insignificant.

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

“The best star pilot in the galaxy” seems like the most important, but in fact friendship is the real core. Lucas cleverly uses the number three to create a resonant emotional tone.

The Rule Shapes Plot Structure

The Rule of Three is also the foundation of the ancient three‑act structure. The three‑act structure holds that any story works best when divided into three parts: beginning, middle, and end.

The idea also guides how trailers are cut and structured.

The power of three also appears on a 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” (repeated invitations to Zhuge Liang)

• 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 dynamics in history are built on threes. There are three main ways to write a trio:

The first is to present all three characters on the same “side” (for example, “the three wise men”). The second is to let conflict erupt among the three, 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 is whether romance is involved.

The examples in this article are just a few ways of using the Rule of Three. Next time you’re reading or watching something, pay attention to how the author applies this rule—you’ll likely learn something new about narrative patterns.