Use Three-Part Lists For Maximum Persuasion

Need to write a convincing presentation for work? The secret might just be saying the same thing three times. Not once, not twice, but three times.

BBC News’ Magazine feature talks to speech-writing experts to see how the tactics used in public speaking can be adapted for other uses. One of the most notable is the use of the “three-part list” for emphasis on a key point:

The theory behind the technique is that three is the first and earliest point at which a possible list of similar words can become unequivocal. No other word needs to be added to make it a list.

This isn’t a new idea (think of Julius Caesar’s “I came, I saw, I conquered”), but it’s worth bearing in mind when you’re looking to add extra conviction to any document. Hit the post for more suggestions on how to adopt speech-writing techniques for everyday work communication.

Want to know how to handle all of these? [BBC News Magazine]