Rule of three (writing)
For other uses of "rule of three," see Rule of three.
The rule of three is a principle in English writing that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. Everything from slogans ("Go, fight, win!") to films (The Godfather'' trilogy) are often structured in threes. There were
three musketeers,
three little pigs, three bears concerned about
Goldilocks, and
three stooges.
A series of three is often used to create a
progression in which the tension is created, then built up, then released. Adjectives are often grouped together in threes in order to emphasize an idea.
In comedy, it is suggested that maximum humor can be attained by creating a structure in which a joke is set up, the setup is reinforced, and the
punchline breaks the pattern.
*
How do you get to my place? Go down to the corner, turn left, and get lost.*
I used to own this hot Italian sports car, but it always got me in trouble. It had three gears: "moderato," "allegro," and "mama mia!"In
storytelling in general, authors often create triplets or structures in three parts. In its simplest form, this is merely
beginning, middle, and end.
Syd Field wrote a popular handbook of
screenwriting, in which he touted the advantages of
three act structure over more traditional
five act structure used by
William Shakespeare and many others.
Musical structure often takes a three-part form.
Call and response songs (especially
sea shanties and
military cadences) generally involve a given call, the call repeated as a response, and a
punchline or twist.
*
3*
Comedy*
Hendiatris*
Inherently funny word*
Trilogy*
Trinity*
Tripartite motto*
John Kinde: "Rule of Threeâ€"A humor technique from the world of comedy"*
Stephen J. Cannell:
"What is the Three Act Structure?"
