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. Series of three produces a rhythm that causes a positive and pleasing sense of completion and fulfillment.
The rule of three works not only in literature but also in design and marketing. Think of children's rhymes and you will remember the quantity of Old King Cole's fiddlers, how many men are infiddlers, how many men are in the tub, the number of blind mice and how much wool the black sheep had. The Three Bears is a three series of threes ("someone's been eating my pudding...someone's been sitting in my chair...someone's been sleeping in my bed...")
A young woman uses the rule in terms of potential dates (Tom, Dick & Harry) what she hopes they will look like (tall, dark and handsome) and the name of the auto supply business where they have their car repaired (Manny, Moe and Jack).
A young man soon discovers three is a crowd when he is only interested in wine, women and song.
We start school saluting the red white and blue flag, learn to color with the three primary colors, start our education with reading, writing and arithmetic. We learn history about Columbus arriving with the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria.
If your place of worship is a church, you know about the Three Wise Men, the Holy Trinity and the excommunication ceremony that began in the Eighth Century with bell, book and candle.
One reason this concept works is because people find it difficult to remember more than three points of information.
