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 intriguing and practical rule by analyzing examples from sentences, situations, and stories. Treat this article as a reference guide you can revisit whenever you hit a writing block.

Why is the Rule of Three important?

It affects everything from sentence structure to plot. More importantly, it has become an instinctive pattern of communication for people all over the world. We’ll look at each of these aspects in turn, 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 find concepts, situations, and ideas easier to understand when they come in groups of three. Over time, anthropologists have confirmed that this rule is an archetypal principle that can be applied on three levels: sentences, situations, and stories.

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 similar numbers of words or syllables (“veni, vidi, vici”; “I came, I saw, I conquered”)

So we know this rule is an important writing principle, but how is it actually applied on the three levels of sentences, situations, and stories?

The rule as applied to sentences

The rule is probably used most often at the sentence level. It may feel contrived at first, but in practice it is 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. But the rule doesn’t require 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 man’s institutions, and the middle ground where science and the spiritual world meet. It sounds very smooth.

You’ll probably also notice this rule in marketing. Here are some examples from taglines and movie 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 of Three is an important part of crafting strong titles and sentences. Keep it in mind as you write to make your prose more fluid.

The rule makes situations richer

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

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

We don’t just see this in Star Wars; it appears in nearly every story known to humankind. When you use 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 lead with the most important point, because then the next two will feel trivial.

Sometimes the most important point is also the easiest to forget. In the Star Wars script, 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” sounds like the most important, but in fact “a good friend” is the key detail. Lucas cleverly uses the power of three to create a resonant emotional tone.

The rule elaborates plot structure

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

A way of thinking about trailer editing structure

The power of three also appears at 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 (the “Three Visits to the Cottage” motif)

• 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 built on “threes.” There are three main ways to write about a trio of characters: the first is to present all three on the same page (as with the “Three Wise Men”). The second is to let conflict erupt among Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The third is to create a love triangle among 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 ways to use the Rule of Three. Next time you’re reading or watching something, pay attention to how the author uses this rule—you’ll likely discover new insights into narrative patterns.