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What is the Rule Of Three?

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The rule of three is a storytelling theory that suggests that things that come in three are more satisfying to audiences. It has several common interpretations:

Lists

Listing three things is thought to be more convincing than listing two or four. For example, stating that a city that is "beautiful, friendly and clean" may be more convincing than adding more to the list.

Structure

Structuring a story with a distinct beginning, middle and end.

Characters

Stories with three primary characters are extremely common.

Slogans

Slogans such as "Stop, drop and roll."

Comic Triple

Comedy based on two characters or things that match and one that doesn't.

Plot

Plots based on three events such as a character who is granted three wishes.
Overview: Rule Of Three
Type
Definition
The theory that audiences prefer story structures and elements that come in three.
Related Concepts

Storytelling

This is the complete list of articles we have written about storytelling.
Analogy
Archetypes
Artistic License
Atmosphere
Character Development
Callback
Character Flaws
Cliche
Dry Humor
Design Fiction
Improv
Deux Ex Machina
Kairos
Direct Language
Literary Device
Literature
Figurative Language
Macguffin
Hypothetical Question
Metaphor
Mood
Improvisation
Myth
Inside Jokes
Plot
Jumping The Shark
Quibble
Rhetorical Device
Sarcasm
Lost The Plot
Satire
Message Framing
Tone Of Text
Understatement
Metaphysical Conceit
Verbal Irony
Want To Believe
Mood
Wit
Narrative Thread
Worldbuilding
Non Sequitur
Peak-End Rule
Personification
Red Herring
Rhetorical Question
Rule Of Three
Slice Of Life
Suspension Of Disbelief
Tagline
Looking Glass
Word Of Mouth
More ...
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Storytelling

Examples of storytelling techniques.

How The World Became Fiction

A theory of innovation and storytelling.

Macguffin

A storytelling technique explained.

Suspension Of Disbelief

An overview of suspension of disbelief.

Improvisation

The definition of improvisation with examples.

Business Storytelling

The common types of business story.

Slice Of Life

A definition of slice of life with examples.

Satire

The definition of satire with examples.

Design Fiction

The definition of design fiction with examples.

Ambiguity

A complete overview of ambiguity with examples.

Influencing Techniques

A few basic influencing strategies.

Internalization vs Compliance

The two ways that people accept ideas.

Message Framing

An overview of message framing as an influencing technique.

Cultural Capital

A definition of cultural capital with examples.

Touching Base

A definition of touch base with examples.

Positive Criticism

A definition of positive criticism with examples.

Creative Tension

A definition of creative tension with examples.

Consensus Building

The definition of consensus building with examples.

Credibility

The definition of credibility with examples.
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