How to Use the Rule of Three to Improve Your Writing

Writing | Rule Of Three

Last updated on: June 19, 2023

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You might be familiar with the phrase, Good things come in threes: The Three Musketeers, The Three Wise Men, The Three Little Pigs . . . . In fact, for writers, you might even say that three is a magic number. An age-old idea, the rule of three is a go-to literary device used by authors, screenwriters, speech writers, and, especially, comedians who need to pack in a 1-2 punch! So, let’s take a closer look at the rule of three as it’s applied in literature.

What is the rule of three?

The rule of three is a principle that suggests people understand and retain information more readily when it is presented as a pattern. Often the number 3 is used because it is the smallest number that can actually form a pattern. But the rule of three goes beyond simple pattern recognition. In the case of writing, the rule of three is often employed on the sentence level to craft memorable phrases and punchier lines. William Shakespeare used the rule of three regularly. Take, for example, Mark Antony’s speech in Julius Caesar, which starts: Friends, Romans, countrymen . . . By using a short, succinct, and rhythmic 3-word pattern (i.e. the rule of three), Shakespeare crafted an opening line that’s stood the test of time.

The rule of three also works as a structural tool to effectively pace a story. By delivering information to readers in sets of three, writers can build more compelling and complex narratives. For this reason, standard practice in writing is to pace a book around three key story moments.

From sentence structure all the way through to plot points, the rule of three can impact every decision an author makes when writing a book. Not convinced? Then think about it this way: every story, no matter what it’s about, contains the same three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. These three elements come together in what is known as a three-part structure.

Using the rule of three to pace a story

When it comes to plotting a manuscript, the rule of three serves one very important purpose: it helps keep a story moving along at the right speed. This is especially true in regard to overcoming the main conflict of a book.

As readers, we want to root for the protagonist of a book. We want to cheer them on as they try to accomplish whatever it is they’ve set out to do. But we also need time to get to know them. To care for them. To revel in their successes and sympathize with their failures.

A protagonist who tries to overcome their problems and succeeds on the first try has no story to tell. When a protagonist fails once and then succeeds, their success can often seem like it comes too easily. Such immediate success is a letdown for a reader who wants to see a protagonist persevere and truly overcome enormous odds to succeed. By the same token, a protagonist who tries and fails four, five, six times begins to grow tedious. By the time so many failures have stacked up, there is an excellent chance that a reader has lost interest in the character’s journey.

Relying on the rule of three allows for a balance. It allows the author to drive their characters (and their readers!) toward the climax of the book. By employing the rule of three, the protagonist has time to face challenges and fail in their quest, but their journey does not drag on so long that it becomes boring. But there is a catch. In writing, and especially in picture books, the rule of three can work one of two ways: a character can try twice and succeed on the third time (three total attempts) or the character can experience three failures before ultimately succeeding in their quest.

In a picture book, the rule of three is typically applied as seen in the image below. Attempts one and two (and sometimes three) occur during the rising action of the story, while the final attempt occurs at the story’s climax, when the problem is fixed or the challenge overcome.

Pictures books can also employ the rule of three in THREES. Below is an example from Periwinkle Smith and the Big, Pink Spot by John & Wendy. This scene shows one of three SETS of attempts made by Periwinkle to solve her problem. Within this attempt, she tries three different things, and across the book she makes three different KINDS of attempts to overcome the obstacle, doubling the use of the rule of three within the book.

When employing the rule of three, keep in mind that it often appears as a chain reaction. This happened, which caused this to happen, and then this BIG thing happened. The goal is for each action to build on the last, increasing excitement and drama with each new piece of the puzzle that’s introduced.

Examples of the rule of three in storytelling

While the rule of three often applies to the actions of a single character, that is not always the case. The rule of three may also show three different characters undertaking similar tasks. In such a situation, it is expected that each subsequent character will be more successful than the last. Take, for example, the three ghosts from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. While the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future are all unique characters, they all serve the same role of escorting Scrooge, and their appearance breaks the story into three distinct parts. As Scrooge moves from time to time, his behavior changes, indicating the increased success of each Ghost.

Below is an example from my upcoming decodable reader, The Fudge Judge, in which Midge must taste three pieces of fudge in order to decide which is the best. Not seen here is the results, in which the reader gets to hear her thoughts on each piece as she tries it. This repetitive pattern allows children to anticipate the language that is coming and can assist in learning how to read.

Let’s take a closer look at how authors utilize the rule of three as a structural tool by examining some classic children’s fables and fairy tales that you’re likely already familiar with. As you’re reading, pay close attention to how the writer gradually raises the stakes with each event in the story, ultimately reaching the narrative’s climax at the third part.

The Three Little Pigs

Most everyone knows this children’s fable, which tells the story of three little pigs and a wolf who wants to huff and puff and blow their house down. While the title of the story itself alludes to the rule of three, we can see with a closer look that the rule of three actually creates the backbone for the entire story.

• Event 1: The first little pig builds his house out of straw. The wolf huffs and puffs, easily blowing the pig’s house down.
• Event 2: The second little pig builds his house out of sticks. The wolf huffs and puffs, easily blowing the pig’s house down.
• Event 3: The third little pig builds his house out of bricks. The wolf huffs and puffs, but is unable to blow the pig’s house down.

The Three Billy-Goats Gruff

In this classic folktale, three goats cross a bridge to a hillside so they can graze on the lush grasses. Unbeknownst to them, a hungry troll lives under the bridge who wants to eat them.

• Event 1: The troll threatens to eat the smallest billy goat, but is convinced to wait for the second, larger goat.
• Event 2: The troll threatens to eat the second, medium-sized billy goat, but is convinced to wait for the third, larger goat.
• Event 3: The troll threatens to eat the third, largest billy goat, but the goat pokes him with his horns and crushes him.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

This fairy tale uses the rule of three quite a lot—there are three bears, three bowls of porridge, three sitting chairs, and three beds. But this story goes a step further, doubling the rule to allow for six major events!

• Event 1: Goldilocks tries three bowls of porridge. The first is “too hot,” the second “too cold,” and the third is “just right.”
• Event 2: Goldilocks sits in each of the three bears’ chairs. The first is “too hard,” the second “too soft,” and the third is “just right.”
• Event 3: Goldilocks decides to rest in a bear’s bed. The first is “too firm,” the second “too mushy,” and the third is “just right.”
• Event 4: The bears come home and notice their home in disarray. Papa Bear declares that someone has been eating his porridge. Mother Bear declares the same. Then Baby Bear announces that someone has eaten up all of his porridge.

Pro Tip: Here, the story not only employs the rule of three to show the bears walking through the damage one item at a time, but also in the character’s speech, having each mimic nearly the same lines, one after the other.

• Event 5: In the living room, Papa Bear and Mama Bear announce that someone has been sitting in their chairs. Baby Bear counters by saying that someone sat in his and broke it!
• Event 6: Upstairs, Papa Bear and Mama Bear notice the first two beds are unkempt. Then they find Goldilocks asleep in Little Bears’ bed. She jumps out the window and the bears never see her again.

Used in this way, not only does the rule of three help writers craft more compelling and complex narratives, but it also helps them craft memorable phrases and punchier lines.

How the rule of three applies outside of plot

While the rule of three often applies to plot, it can be utilized in a number of other ways. Consider, for example, a classic love triangle. Here, three unique stories and points of view come together to form one cohesive story.

Applied in sentences, a tricolon is a grouping of three distinct sets of words that mimic one another in length and rhythm, all the while reinforcing a memorable phrase. When you think of the Declaration of Independence, what words spring to mind? Probably these: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This part sticks in our minds because we can recognize the pattern of three clear, distinct but related ideas.

Tricolon also works well in picture books as a way to engage children in the rhythm of a story. Below is another example from Periwinkle Smith and the Big, Pink Spot in which the use of tricolon can be seen through Periwinkle’s actions.

Here’s another example from the Gettysburg Address: “A government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Here again, the repetition and the use of the rule of three make these words memorable long after they were first spoken. Similar to a tricolon, a hendiatris is a series of three individual words that deliver a common message or idea. Shakespeare is well-known for utilizing this writing principle, especially in his classic, Julius Caesar: “Veni, vidi, vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered). Other more modern examples include: Live, Laugh, Love; Peace, Love, and Happiness; and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

In writing, lists also tend to be composed of three elements. Take a look at the following example:

The evil Pirate Captain put his plan into motion—his motley crew would fire their cannons at The Carpe Diem, sneak aboard the ship, and kidnap the King’s daughter.

Here, the captain is laying out the three things that need to be done. As with plot, three is the magic number here, as two things would seem too few, but four or more feels like too many.

Now that you’ve had a chance to see some examples, practice writing your own story using the rule of three. But, most importantly, remember to have fun as you’re writing!