The rule of 3 rules the world

By Diana Burns on May 19th, 2017 in Clear writing, Structure

It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the bees are buzzing.

See what I did there? No? Aha! I used the rule of three. It’s a rule that is embedded
deep in your subconscious, even if you don’t realise it. And it has a big impact on how
well your writing and public speaking connects with people.

Three is the magic number

Three seems to be a magic number in communication. It’s everywhere. Take
Goldilocks and the three bears. Those bowls of porridge Goldilocks tasted were too hot,
too cold, or just right. The beds Goldilocks tried were too hard, too soft, and just right.

At a more adult level, we see the number three reflected in the three-act structure of
plays, films, TV series, speeches, and more. It’s even at the heart of Christian religion:
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Somehow, the rule of three is a form we seem to intrinsically understand and find
satisfying. The simplest way to describe it is that everything has a beginning , a middle,
and an end. But like so much in life and in writing, behind that apparent simplicity lies
some cunning complexity and an understanding of the human psyche.

Three repetitions is just right

Three is the number of repetitions that works best when you want to make a point
strongly. If you analyse some of the great speeches made by famous orators and
politicians, you’ll find the rule of three at work everywhere.

Steve Jobs’ Commencement Address to Stanford graduates in 2005 is one of the most
viewed speeches on the internet. He started it by saying that he wanted to tell them three
stories, and that’s what he did. Each story was simple, powerful, and full of emotion.

Here are some examples of the rule of three in some of the most famous speeches
in history:

Abraham Lincoln (Gettysburg Address)

We cannot dedicate — we cannot consecrate — we cannot hallow — this ground.

Barack Obama (Inaugural Speech)

Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered.

Why is it important to use in your speech?

Saying something three times is enough to create some sort of pattern. The first
time you say it, it’s just a word. The second time you say it, it creates intrigue and
the third time you say it, it creates a trilogical pattern.

You can also break patterns for humour using the rule of three which we shall get
to later in the article. The rule has multiple purposes. I’ve seen speakers use it to
evoke different emotions in their audiences.

I remember this one speaker – what an amazing speech he gave. His title itself
used this technique of three. It was called: Push, Pull, Love. The speech beautifully
rounded up the speaker’s message continuously leveraging the rule of three.
Needless to say, most of us remember it to this day.

Using the power of three, you can better inform your audience, make them laugh
or even motivate them! Keeping the focus on a single message and repeating them
in different ways throughout your presentation, is certain to create maximum
impact. It’s simply a great way to add more spice to your speech and make it all
the more powerful!

How to Incorporate the Rule of Three Into Your Speeches

One of the simplest ways of using the rule of three in your speeches is by slicing
your entire speech up into three parts. And by that, I don’t mean slice it up into an
introduction, body and conclusion (that’s obvious!). But instead, break up your
body into three further ideas.

Speeches are powerful when they have three ideas which drive home the same
message. I’ve written about this previously as well. For example, when you use
three anecdotes which talk about a problem, you can use two different situations
which showcase the problem and the third story can be the game-changer – where
you find a problem to that solution. Lots of speakers do that and it works wonders!

Michelle Obama’s speech to the 2016 Democratic National Convention was widely
lauded as brilliant. If you go through the transcript, it’s bursting with great examples of
the rule of three.
Here’s one:
You need to be steady, and measured, and well informed.
Here’s another:
I want a leader who is worthy of that truth, a leader who is worthy of my girls’ promise
and all our kids’ promise, a leader who will be guided every day by the love and hope
and impossibly big dreams we all have for our children.

Now that’s a beauty. It has the rule of three twice in one sentence. I could go on. You’ll
find the rule of three everywhere once you start looking. Churchill, of course, was
partial to it: ‘Never, never, never give up.’ So was Shakespeare, and most classical
writers.

3 Ways to Use the Rule of Three in Your Writing

1. Three-part structure. Use a three-part structure to organize your writing.
In the beginning, set things up. Then build anticipation, and finish with the
punchline, resolution, or plot twist. The easiest way to do this is by having
three characters experience the same situation in slightly different ways.

2. Tricolon. At the sentence level, try using a group of three words that
parallel each other in length and/or form. This is known as a tricolon and
produces memorable, rhythmic phrases. For example: “We cannot
dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground,” from
Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Thomas Jefferson used a tricolon
when he wrote the United States Declaration of Independence saying that,
“Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” are the unalienable rights of
all humans that governments are meant to protect.

3. Hendiatris. Use three words that work together to convey a single

concept. This is called a hendiatris and is especially useful for advertising
slogans and speechwriting. Think, “Veni, vidi, vici” (I came, I saw, I
conquered) and “Friends, romans, countrymen,” both from William
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.