This post is about the rule of three.

This is NOT the Wiccan rule of three: the belief that the energy you put out into the world will be magically returned threefold. That’s witchcraft!

This rule of three is the writing principle that suggests that grouping things into threes creates clear arguments, establishes patterns and makes things easier to remember.

Single objects are straightforward, pairs can be similar or contrasting, but threes create patterns that establish concepts. Groups of more than three become lists.

Important conceptual things are written in threes because three is the smallest number that can create a clear pattern. Some brilliant threes include:

• Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

• Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite

• Rum, sodomy and the lash

But remember that in good writing the rule of three is not witchcraft its wordcraft!