Some people follow the rule of three in their lives and work. They may do this when focusing on three goals, giving three messages to people or creating a model that has three steps.
Why take this approach? People look for patterns to make sense of information. According to brain scientists, three is the easiest number for people to remember in terms of looking for patterns.
The Masterclass website gives some reasons when it can be useful to remember the rule of three. It describes this in terms of giving tips to writers but the rule often applies in other situations. Here is an excerpt from the website.
What Is The Rule Of Three?
The rule of three is a writing principle based on the idea that humans process information through pattern recognition. As the smallest number that allows us to recognize a pattern in a set, three can help us craft memorable phrases.
The rule of three is also incredibly useful as a structural tool: comedians use the rule of three to craft three-part jokes (set up, build anticipation, punch line) and screenplays generally follow a three-act structure.
Here is a further explanation from The Rule of Three website.
When it comes to communicating ideas, human beings are programmed to process information through instinctive pattern recognition.
Of course, to communicate effectively, the pattern needs to be as small as possible. So what is the smallest number required to make a pattern? Three.
And there lies its power. In its many forms, the Rule of Three, at heart, utilises simple three-element patterns to communicate complex ideas effectively.
The pattern works because it is short. Memorable. Powerful. That’s why the Rule of Three is so pervasive throughout history:
In physics – Newton’s three rules of motion.
In music – musical triads: the three-note building blocks of musical harmony.
In religion – the concept of the triple deity, common throughout world mythology, such as the holy trinity.
In art and photography – principles of composition, such as the rule of thirds.
Of course, as copywriters, we’re primarily interested in writing and rhetoric. That’s where the Rule of Three really comes into play:
Aristotle’s three unities – dramatic unity of time, place and action.
The three dramatic conflicts – internal, relational and external.
The three-act structure – beginning, middle and end, used throughout drama and in the modern cinematic trilogy.
The list goes on. The Rule of Three has also been used to encapsulate some of history’s most powerful ideas. For example:
‘Liberty, Equality, Fraternity’.
Some of the most powerful speakers in history fill their speeches with Rule of Three techniques.
The IQDoodle website expands on this theme. Here is an excerpt from the website.
The human mind actually enjoys thinking in patterns. In fact, we naturally look for and create patterns every day, in everything we do.
An example of this idea is within our language where adjectives are often grouped together in threes in order to emphasize an idea.
The Rule of Three is relevant because the number three is the lowest figure that can be used to form patterns in our mind.
This is important, because: The first instance of something occurring is considered as chance; The second instance is considered a coincidence; The third instance is perceived as a pattern.
Good leaders sometimes communicate their team’s goals by following the rule of three. They may also add three points under each heading. This makes it easier to remember than a list of nine points. Different leaders do this in different ways. Here is one framework they use.
Let’s return to your own life and work. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements of this approach? How can you do this in your own way?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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