Twins and Triplets

We naturally relate to symmetrical patterns. This is true, not only in our visual, graphic world, but also in the way we structure sentences.

What’s the difference between “bread and butter” and “butter and bread”? First, we pick up a slice of bread, then add the butter, so we naturally want to see “bread” first.

We have PB&J sandwiches because most people apply peanut butter to the bread before they add the jelly.

Why do you suppose we refer to “horses and chariots” instead of “chariots and horses”? That’s right, we want our word order to move from left to right on the page in the same order as we want to create the picture in our minds. Horses pull carts, and not vice versa.

We pick up a “hammer and nails,” not “nails and a hammer.”

“Friends, Romans, and countrymen” is more pleasing to the ear than “friends, countrymen, and Romans.” Why? We have a one-syllable word followed by a two-syllable word, then three syllables. We like that pattern better than putting the three-syllable word between one and two.

We like “faith, hope, and charity” better than “faith, charity, and hope.”

We refer to the Holy Trinity as “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Why do you suppose we prefer that order above “Son, Father, and Holy Spirit”? In this case, we’re concerned with the physical condition. Fathers beget sons, so we want “father” first, and then “son” naturally comes next.

Saying “Father, Holy Spirit, and Son” just doesn’t work.

“Peter, Paul, and Mary” sounds better than “Mary, Paul, and Peter” or “Peter, Mary, and Paul.” Why? Perhaps it’s the symmetry of syllables: two/one/two. Or maybe it’s the way the sounds naturally flow off the tongue. We don’t like arrangements that tangle our tongues and make us stutter.

When writing, think about the flow of the words from left to right. Readers will be most pleased if they follow a natural progression of action, logic, or sound.