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 fascinating and practical rule by analyzing examples in sentences, situations, and stories. Think of this article as a reference guide you can revisit 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 pattern of communication for people all over the world. We’ll look at these rules one by one, but first let’s define what the Rule of Three is.

What Is the Rule of Three?

The Rule of Three is a narrative principle that suggests people find concepts, situations, and ideas presented in groups of three easier to understand. 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 similar word or syllable counts (“veni, vidi, vici”; “I came, I saw, I conquered”)

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

The Rule Applies to Sentences

This rule is perhaps most commonly used in sentences. You might think it feels forced, but in practice it is almost always satisfying.

For example, in our article about “The Scorpion and the Frog,” we have this 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 highlight 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 bold those nouns: 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 that use the Rule of Three in taglines and film titles:

• 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 is an important part of crafting concise titles and sentences. Keep it in mind while writing to make your prose more fluid.

The Rule Makes Situations More Complex

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

“He plans 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 humanity. When using the Rule of Three to describe a situation, always save the most important point for last.

Think about it: you don’t want to put the key point first, because that makes the next two points feel irrelevant.

Sometimes the most important point is actually the easiest one 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.”

“Best star-pilot in the galaxy” seems like the most important, but in fact “a good friend” is what truly matters. Lucas cleverly uses the number three to create an emotionally resonant effect.

The Rule Shapes Plot Structure

This rule is also the cornerstone of the ancient three-act structure. The three-act structure holds that any story works best divided into three parts: beginning, middle, and end.

The logic behind trailer editing

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” (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 relationships in history are built on “three.” There are three ways to portray a trio of characters: the first is to present all three on the same page (for example, “the Three Wise Men”). The second is to generate conflict 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 methods is whether a romantic element is involved.

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