Ever wondered why it feels good to write bullet points in sets of three? Two just doesn’t seem worthwhile, whereas four can feel a little excessive. Brian Clark at Copyblogger explains How To Use The ‘Rule Of Three’ To Create Engaging Content. In this rather compelling post Brian describes why the human brain is drawn towards three-part structures.
It’s no accident that the number three is pervasive throughout some of our greatest stories, fairy tales and myths. It’s also no coincidence that some of the most famous quotes from throughout history are structured in three parts, nor is it surprising that the Rule of Three also works wonders in the world of comedy. It all comes down to the way we humans process information. We have become proficient at pattern recognition by necessity, and three is the smallest number of elements required to create a pattern. This combination of pattern and brevity results in memorable content, and that’s why the Rule of Three will make you a more engaging writer.
So next time you’re writing new content for your web site, updating the company’s brochure or just preparing a proposal for the boss, think about where you can apply the ‘Rule of Three’.