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• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

• Start with a question
• Write your initial answer
• Develop your answer
• Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

• Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
• Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
• Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

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Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

• Why you hold this position
• What they’ll learn from your essay
• The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

• In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
• In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

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Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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On Thesis Statements

The thesis statement.

This is not an exhaustive list of bad thesis statements, but here're five kinds of problems I've seen most often. Notice that the last two, #4 and #5, are not necessarily incorrect or illegitimate thesis statements, but, rather, inappropriate for the purposes of this course. They may be useful forms for papers on different topics in other courses.

A thesis takes a position on an issue. It is different from a topic sentence in that a thesis statement is not neutral. It announces, in addition to the topic, the argument you want to make or the point you want to prove. This is your own opinion that you intend to back up. This is your reason and motivation for writing.

Bad Thesis 1

Bad Thesis 2 : This paper will consider the advantages and disadvantages of certain restrictions on free speech.

Better Thesis 1 : Stanley Fish's argument that free speech exists more as a political prize than as a legal reality ignores the fact that even as a political prize it still serves the social end of creating a general cultural atmosphere of tolerance that may ultimately promote free speech in our nation just as effectively as any binding law.

Better Thesis 2 : Even though there may be considerable advantages to restricting hate speech, the possibility of chilling open dialogue on crucial racial issues is too great and too high a price to pay.

A thesis should be as specific as possible, and it should be tailored to reflect the scope of the paper. It is not possible, for instance, to write about the history of English literature in a 5 page paper. In addition to choosing simply a smaller topic, strategies to narrow a thesis include specifying a method or perspective or delineating certain limits.

Bad Thesis 2 : The government has the right to limit free speech.

Better Thesis 1 : There should be no restrictions on the 1st amendment if those restrictions are intended merely to protect individuals from unspecified or otherwise unquantifiable or unverifiable "emotional distress."

Better Thesis 2 : The government has the right to limit free speech in cases of overtly racist or sexist language because our failure to address such abuses would effectively suggest that our society condones such ignorant and hateful views.

A thesis must be arguable. And in order for it to be arguable, it must present a view that someone might reasonably contest. Sometimes a thesis ultimately says, "we should be good," or "bad things are bad." Such thesis statements are tautological or so universally accepted that there is no need to prove the point.

Bad Thesis 2 : There are always alternatives to using racist speech.

Better Thesis 1 : If we can accept that emotional injuries can be just as painful as physical ones we should limit speech that may hurt people's feelings in ways similar to the way we limit speech that may lead directly to bodily harm.

Better Thesis 2 : The "fighting words" exception to free speech is not legitimate because it wrongly considers speech as an action.

A good argumentative thesis provides not only a position on an issue, but also suggests the structure of the paper. The thesis should allow the reader to imagine and anticipate the flow of the paper, in which a sequence of points logically prove the essay's main assertion. A list essay provides no such structure, so that different points and paragraphs appear arbitrary with no logical connection to one another.

Bad Thesis 2 : None of the arguments in favor of regulating pornography are persuasive.

Better Thesis 1 : Among the many reasons we need to limit hate speech the most compelling ones all refer to our history of discrimination and prejudice, and it is, ultimately, for the purpose of trying to repair our troubled racial society that we need hate speech legislation.

Better Thesis 2 : None of the arguments in favor of regulating pornography are persuasive because they all base their points on the unverifiable and questionable assumption that the producers of pornography necessarily harbor ill will specifically to women.

In an other course this would not be at all unacceptable, and, in fact, possibly even desirable. But in this kind of course, a thesis statement that makes a factual claim that can be verified only with scientific, sociological, psychological or other kind of experimental evidence is not appropriate. You need to construct a thesis that you are prepared to prove using the tools you have available, without having to consult the world's leading expert on the issue to provide you with a definitive judgment.

Bad Thesis 2 : Hate speech can cause emotional pain and suffering in victims just as intense as physical battery.

Better Thesis 1 : Whether or not the cultural concept of free speech bears any relation to the reality of 1st amendment legislation and jurisprudence, its continuing social function as a promoter of tolerance and intellectual exchange trumps the call for politicization (according to Fish's agenda) of the term.

Better Thesis 2 : The various arguments against the regulation of hate speech depend on the unspoken and unexamined assumption that emotional pain is either trivial.

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Write Down Your Team’s Unwritten Rules

• Liz Fosslien
• Mollie West Duffy

Creating an “It’s okay to…” list will help your employees feel less anxious.

Are your employees aware of your company’s or team’s unwritten rules? Do they know if it’s okay to turn off their video during a Zoom meeting? Or to take a break from work and go for a walk in the middle of the day?  During stressful times, it can be helpful to everyone, whether they’ve been at your company for years or just started last week, to know exactly what the unstated cultural and emotional norms are. So write them down and share them. The authors call these “it’s okay to…” lists and suggest including unspoken rules related to digital communication norms, emotional support, psychological safety, and work styles. This simple exercise can have a big impact on easing employee anxiety and helping every person on your team feel secure and supported.

Every workplace has unwritten rules. If you’re on a video call with 20 of your colleagues, is it okay to turn your camera off? When you email your boss, do you include a bunch of emojis? 

• Liz Fosslien is the coauthor and illustrator of the WSJ bestseller No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotion at Work  and Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay . She is on the leadership team of Atlassian’s Team Anywhere, where she helps distributed teams advance how they collaborate. Liz regularly leads workshops for leaders; her clients include Google, Paramount, and the U.S. Air Force. Liz’s writing and work have been featured by TED, The Economist, Good Morning America, the New York Times, and NPR. lizandmollie
• Mollie West Duffy is the coauthor of the WSJ bestseller No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotion at Work and Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay . She is the head of learning and development at Lattice, and was an organizational design lead at global innovation firm IDEO. She has worked with companies of all sizes on organizational development, leadership development, and workplace culture. lizandmollie

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How Unwritten Rules Shape Your Culture

You won’t find your company most important rules in the employee handbook. The rules that people follow are usually unwritten.

By Gustavo Razzetti

October 6, 2017

In the workplace, behavior matters more than words

“Let me tell you how things work here.”

The first day at a new job is rough.

We’re excited and proud, but also feel nervous. Will I fit in? Will the reality of the job match my desires?

The first day at a job is when expectations meet reality. And that’s why both employers and employees feel anxious.

The first contact with the company’s culture makes us wonder if we’ve made the right decision.

That’s what recently happened to a former client when she had just finished her onboarding at her new job. Maggie was sitting at her new desk while trying to memorize the company’s vision statement.

“Let me tell you how things work here” — someone from the spontaneous welcome committee said.

This aspiring leader was reminding Maggie of the most important lesson at a new job; fitting-in is more than just being liked. It’s about behaving according to the unwritten rules that govern an organization.

Unspoken rules define your culture

“Culture is the behavior you reward and punish.” — Jocelyn Goldfein

Maggie — a former client — is a high-performing, confident, and driven executive. That’s why she was so successful at her previous job.

But her smarts seemed less valuable now.

One month into her new job, Maggie was called to her boss’ office to discuss her performance. Maggie works in a large training organization in the business development department. Written rules say she should be making ten calls per day.

As her boss was reviewing the stats, Maggie couldn’t understand what was going on. Since she’d joined, thanks to her vast network, she was closing business at almost twice the rate of the rest of the team.

She was “accused” of making fewer calls than expected.

As illogical as it might sound, this particular company rewards fitting-in over being extraordinary.

In this case, the unspoken rule seemed to be: “playing by-the-rules matters more than results” or “ bosses reward mediocre employees and fear top performers.”

The behaviors organizations promote and tolerate, determine their real culture. They are more powerful than any written rules – or a mission statement, for that matter.

Many times, unspoken rules encourage mediocre behaviors from both employees and managers.

This pattern creates a paradox in the workplace.

Companies believe that the most talented people are expensive. If they just analyze the salary/ cost, maybe so. The truth is that organizations pay mediocre employees way too much.

The ROI on mediocre employees is much lower. That’s what makes them more expensive – especially if you factor in how they negatively affect top performers.

Mismanagement makes unwritten rules official.

Understanding Your Unwritten Rules

“You can observe a lot by watching.” — Yogi Berra, baseball catcher

As I discussed in a previous piece , an unsafe or toxic culture harms not just employee retention, but your bottom line too.

That’s what unwritten rules do: they erode trust. People want to survive, rather than to do their best work.

There’s often a gap between the ideal state that organizations communicate and their reality. This lack of transparency is what feeds unwritten rules.

Steve Simpson, the author of Cracking the Corporate Culture Code, explains how research in Australia and New Zealand has shown a dangerous gap between the desired culture and the actual operating one.

When managers’ behaviors are different from their words, employees become cynical about the organization’s mission and values, the author states.

Many senior managers speak about wanting a culture that encourages innovation, collaboration, open communication, and teamwork, but their behaviors are promoting mediocrity, fear, politics, and individualism.

Here are some examples I’ve seen in both large corporations and fast-growth startups. Use them to reflect on how your organization talks and behaves.

Sound familiar? Which behaviors are promoting unspoken rules? Why?

I’m not telling you to lower your organization’s ambition, but when a company’s visions and goals are disconnected from reality, they fuel skepticism.

That’s why I’m always helping my clients build and promote a culture of transparency .

Being candid about the reality of how an organization operates will inspire people to help you. Doing the opposite will only widen the gap of trust.

How to deal with the unwritten rules in the workplace

If you are a manager:.

Provide a safe space for people to speak up: Are people rewarded for sharing their ideas? Do you let team members speak up first? Are you actively listening to other opinions? Or simply pretending there’s an open dialogue…

Make sure everyone abides by the same rules: Some organizations allow favorites or bosses to play outside the written rules. This creates a sense of injustice and unfairness.

Address the tensions between written and unwritten rules: Encourage your team to bring up their observations. Don’t just ask them to do so, regularly touch base to address silent issues ( or the stinky fish , as we call it)

Become more aware of your own behaviors: Are you consciously and/ or unconsciously behaving in a way that promotes unspoken rules rather than being consistent with the values you preach? That’s okay. We all make mistakes. Make necessary adjustments and, most importantly, let your team know you are challenging your behaviors.

To show you are serious, behave boldly: Your actions — what you reward and punish — is the standard that will define your team’s behaviors. Don’t just make statements; leaders need to behave boldly. The more risks you take , the more your team will trust your words.

Acknowledging your mistakes will build trust. Embracing vulnerability not only shows that you’re human, but also that you trust yourself and are confident enough to confront your own flaws .

If you are a new employee:

Be patient. There’s always a gap; comparing things now with how you felt at your previous job won’t help.

Don’t fight what’s different; try to learn and reflect.

Ask questions, rather than provide solutions. As I told Maggie, most people resist ideas from newcomers – even if they’re right. If you detect something that can be improved, present your observations as a question.

Challenge the team to reflect and find a solution rather than show them how wrong they are. Most probably, they have tried to “change things around here” before.

The problem with unwritten rules is not just that they define informal behaviors; it’s that they represent the real culture, one that is not aligned with the company purpose .

Addressing and adjusting behaviors will help build a healthier culture. Promoting transparency drives the necessary safe space for people to speak up and resolve these tensions .

Unspoken rules are just symptoms; what do they say about your company?

Which management behaviors are promoting those unspoken rules?

Who benefits from those unspoken rules?

What do you think?

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Custom, Reconsidered: Lessons on Unwritten Rules from Professional Sports

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Robert J Beck, Custom, Reconsidered: Lessons on Unwritten Rules from Professional Sports, International Studies Review , Volume 26, Issue 1, March 2024, viae010, https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viae010

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Professional sports have unwritten, but nevertheless well-appreciated and behavior-guiding rules that have come to be viewed as obligatory and subject to enforcement. This essay uses such unwritten rules from professional sports as novel lenses through which to view afresh, and more richly to appreciate, customary international law (CIL) rules’ nature, origins, and evolution. Though much CIL scholarship has presumed that merely tradition and self-interest have empowered CIL’s legal force, unwritten rules from professional sports demonstrate that emergent and even unacknowledged norms can and do necessitate widely accepted actions and penalties. This essay begins with a discussion of CIL’s literature, distinct nature, and methodological challenges. It turns next to a review and analysis of four prominent, unwritten rules drawn from professional sports. Finally, based on that analysis, it identifies particular lessons of salience for students of CIL. This essay also specifies the broader implications for CIL of professional sports’ unwritten-but-obligatory rules.

El deporte profesional cuenta con reglas no escritas, pero que, sin embargo, son bien apreciadas y guían el comportamiento de tal forma que han llegado a ser vistas como obligatorias y sujetas a su cumplimiento. Este artículo utiliza estas reglas no escritas del deporte profesional como lentes novedosas a través de las cuales se puede ver de nuevo, y apreciar de una manera más rica, la naturaleza, los orígenes y la evolución de las normas del derecho internacional consuetudinario (CIL, por sus siglas en inglés). Aunque gran parte de los académicos en el ámbito del derecho internacional consuetudinario ha supuesto que tanto la mera tradición como el interés propio han dado poder a la fuerza jurídica del CIL, las reglas no escritas dentro del deporte profesional demuestran que las normas emergentes e, incluso las no reconocidas, pueden requerir y requieren acciones y sanciones ampliamente aceptadas. Este artículo comienza con una discusión acerca de la literatura del derecho internacional consuetudinario, así como de su naturaleza distintiva y de sus desafíos metodológicos. A continuación, realizamos una revisión y un análisis de cuatro prominentes reglas no escritas, extraídas del campo del deporte profesional. Finalmente, identificamos, a partir de ese análisis, lecciones particulares que resultarán de relevancia para los estudiantes de CIL. Este artículo también especifica las implicaciones más amplias que tienen para el derecho internacional consuetudinario aquellas reglas que no están escritas, pero que son de obligatorio cumplimiento en el deporte profesional.

Dans le sport professionnel, il existe certaines règles non écrites qui sont fort appréciées et qui orientent les comportements. Désormais considérées obligatoires, elles font l'objet de mesures d'application. Par le biais de ces règles, cet article adopte un nouvel angle pour appréhender et mieux apprécier la nature, les origines et l’évolution des règles du droit international coutumier (DIC). Bien que nombre de travaux de recherche en droit international coutumier aient postulé que seuls la tradition et les intérêts personnels ont donné une valeur légale au DIC, les règles non écrites du sport professionnel démontrent que les normes émergentes et même, non reconnues, peuvent nécessiter et nécessitent des mesures et des sanctions largement acceptées. Cet article traite d'abord de la littérature, de la nature distincte et des défis méthodologiques du droit international coutumier. Ensuite, il passe en revue et analyse quatre importantes règles non écrites tirées de sports professionnels. Enfin, en se fondant sur cette analyse, il tire certaines leçons d'importance pour les étudiants du DIC. Cet article précise aussi les implications plus larges pour le droit international coutumier relatif aux règles non écrites mais obligatoires du sport professionnel.

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Blog Details

10 unspoken rules every successful relationship follows.

Relationships aren’t easy, and anyone who says otherwise probably hasn’t been in one for very long. 

I’ve spent a good part of my life trying to figure out what makes some relationships thrive while others fizzle out. 

And you know what? 

A lot of it comes down to following a set of unspoken rules. 

These aren’t big, dramatic gestures but small, everyday actions and attitudes that make a huge difference in the long run. 

In this article, I’m going to share with you the 10 unspoken rules that every successful relationship follows, drawn from real-life observations and experiences. 

So, whether you’re just starting out with someone new or have been with your partner for years, these insights could help steer your relationship in the right direction.

1) Prioritize emotional safety

One of the things I’ve noticed stands out with couples who’ve been together for years is they make each other feel emotionally safe. 

Does that mean they avoid major fights? 

No – they don’t avoid conflict, it just means they create an environment where both partners feel comfortable sharing their feelings, fears, and dreams. 

In other words, it’s about showing vulnerability without fearing judgment. 

As a result, this safety net strengthens the bond over time and deepens trust.

2) Understand before being understood

It’s easy to want to get our point across, especially in the heat of a disagreement. But the couples that truly last take a step back to understand their partner’s perspective first. 

They listen, they empathize, and then they express. 

Truth be told, this simple switch can transform conflicts into conversations and misunderstandings into clarity.

3) Keep the small acts of love alive

I’ve always been a believer that it’s the small things that matter the most. 

That unexpected fresh orange juice in bed, the random hugs, or even just taking out the trash without being asked. 

Successful couples don’t wait for anniversaries to express their love. They tend to find any excuse to celebrate a day together.

They find joy in daily, simple acts that remind their partner, “I’m thinking of you.”

4) Make time, don’t find time

In the hustle of life, often you might find yourself saying things like “We’ll find time for each other.” 

But the truth is, time isn’t found; it’s made. 

The couples that truly thrive make it a point to carve out moments for each other, be it a weekly date night or just an hour of uninterrupted conversation. 

The key is about prioritizing the relationship amidst life’s chaos.

5) Respect individuality

Have you met someone who fell in love and almost merged into a single entity with that person? 

This neglect of oneself individuality might come as respectful to your partner but it certainly isn’t to yourself. 

So, here is the thing: It’s about two distinct individuals choosing to journey together and their successful relationship is a sign that they honor this individuality. 

They give each other space to grow, have separate hobbies, and even spend time apart. 

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After all, this respect for individual space and interests adds a rich dimension to their shared life.

6) Acceptance of change

It’s a natural instinct to want to change things we don’t like, and this can extend to our partner’s habits or quirks. 

I can admit I’ve been guilty of this, so if you have too, don’t beat yourself too much. It’s never too late to make some changes, but on yourself, not your other half. 

Over time, I’ve learned that the most harmonious relationships are built on acceptance. 

Individuals in these types of relationships understand that it’s these unique attributes that make their partner who they are.

So, instead of trying to change their partner, successful couples embrace each other , flaws and all. 

7) Open communication, always

There’s a reason why communication is always touted as the cornerstone of a good relationship. 

Communication it’s not just about talking; it’s about the quality of these conversations. 

Successful couples ensure they check in with each other regularly, discuss their feelings, and address concerns before they become bigger issues. 

In other words, they create a safe space where both can speak freely without fear.

8) Share responsibilities

Gone are the days when roles in a relationship were rigidly defined. 

The couples that truly thrive share responsibilities, be it household chores, finances, or raising kids. 

By working as a team, they strengthen their bond and ensure that no partner feels burdened or undervalued.

For instance, in my household, my wife takes care of the cleaning duties and I do the cooking. From my experience, sharing responsibilities has definitely improved the quality of our relationship.

9) Laugh together

Life isn’t always smiles and laughter. 

There are challenges, ups and downs, stressful times, and moments of doubt. But through it all, the couples that last find reasons to laugh together. 

They don’t take themselves too seriously and know that shared laughter can be a potent remedy to life’s challenges.

10) Keep exploring and growing together

Finally, stagnation can be a relationship’s worst enemy . Successful couples are always on the lookout for new experiences and learnings. 

Be it taking up a hobby together, traveling to a new place, or simply re-doing the bathroom – they seek ways to grow collectively, ensuring their relationship remains fresh and dynamic.

Now that we know those rules, let me provide you with a few hints on how to cultivate them before we wrap up.

How to cultivate and build over those unspoken rules

Successfully incorporating these unspoken rules into your relationship requires dedication and a touch of strategy. Here’s how you can refine and build upon these foundations:

• Ensure your partner always feels heard by minimizing distractions and genuinely focusing on their words.
• Dedicate a few minutes each day to connect and share, promoting a steady stream of communication.
• Divide responsibilities based on each person’s strengths, ensuring tasks are done efficiently.
• Incorporate laughter into your daily routine. A shared joke can be the best bridge over troubled waters.
• Create shared memories by planning regular activities or outings you both enjoy.
• Celebrate both the big and small wins in each other’s lives, fostering mutual respect.
• Regularly check in with your partner about any behaviors or habits, keeping the dialogue open and constructive.

Remember, while love is foundational, continuously nurturing and building upon these rules can transform your relationship into something even more special and enduring.

While love stories might differ, the underlying principles often remain the same. 

It’s these unspoken rules, these subtle habits and practices, that form the bedrock of a lasting relationship. 

So, whether you’re just starting out or years into a relationship, reflecting on these can offer a fresh perspective and a path to deepening your bond. 

Remember, in the world of relationships, it’s often the unsaid that holds the most power.

Who’s your “Friends” alter-ego?

That’s it for the article, but before you leave…

Have you ever debated with your friends about which ‘Friends’ character you’re most like? Who out of Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe you really resonate with?

Well, now’s your chance to find out!

We’ve created a fun new quiz which matches you with your Friends alter-ego. Answer a few simple questions and we’ll match you with the character that truly matches your personality.

Ready to find out who you’d be hanging out with at Central Perk?

Take the quiz by clicking here.

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