Written and formal Korean style

In spoken Korean, learners often rely on polite endings such as -요 and -습니다. These endings are suitable when speaking to someone directly. However, written Korean often does not address a listener. Articles, reports, essays, textbooks, research papers, and official explanations usually need a more neutral declarative style.

That style is often called plain written style. Descriptive verbs and nouns commonly end with -다: 중요하다, 문제이다, 필요하다. Action verbs often use -는다 or -ㄴ다: 증가한다, 나타난다, 발생한다. This gives the sentence a firm, objective, and text-like tone.

The important point is not that -다 is casual. In conversation, plain endings can sound casual or even blunt. But in writing, the same ending becomes neutral and formal. Register depends on context. 나는 간다 in speech may sound rough or literary, but 인구가 증가한다 in a report sounds completely normal.

Advanced learners must separate spoken politeness from written formality. A sentence can be formal without using honorific endings. Written Korean often sounds formal because it is impersonal, structured, and factual, not because it says -습니다 every time.

-라고 할 수 있다 is a useful academic and formal writing pattern. It means “can be said to be...” or “may be described as...”. It allows the writer to make a claim while keeping the tone careful and analytical.

The structure is noun or quoted statement + 라고 할 수 있다. For nouns, use 이라고 할 수 있다 after a consonant and 라고 할 수 있다 after a vowel. For example, 언어는 문화의 거울이라고 할 수 있다 means “language can be said to be a mirror of culture.”

This pattern is softer than direct 이다. 언어는 문화의 거울이다 is a strong assertion. 언어는 문화의 거울이라고 할 수 있다 still makes the same point, but it sounds more academic and less absolute. This is important in essays and research because writers often avoid sounding too dogmatic.

In advanced Korean, this expression is useful when defining concepts, interpreting data, summarizing arguments, or presenting a cautious conclusion. It helps the writer sound confident but not careless.

-에 의하면 and -에 따르면 are formal source-marking expressions meaning “according to”. They are used when the writer bases a statement on data, research, a report, law, testimony, or another source.

The structure is source noun + 에 의하면 or source noun + 에 따르면. For example, 조사 결과에 따르면 응답자의 절반 이상이 찬성했다 means “according to the survey results, more than half of the respondents agreed.”

Both expressions are common, but -에 따르면 is especially frequent in news and reports. -에 의하면 can sound slightly more formal or written. They help separate the writer's own opinion from information attributed to a source.

This is essential in advanced Korean writing. Instead of saying a claim directly, Korean often marks where the claim comes from. This makes the writing more credible, objective, and academically acceptable.

-고자 한다 is a formal written expression meaning “intend to”, “aim to”, or “seek to”. It is common in research papers, reports, proposals, introductions, and official plans.

The structure is verb stem + -고자 한다. For example, 본 연구는 한국어 학습자의 오류를 분석하고자 한다 means “this study aims to analyze errors made by Korean learners.” The expression makes the purpose sound formal and deliberate.

Compared with -려고 하다, -고자 하다 is more written and official. 분석하려고 한다 is understandable but can sound more conversational. 분석하고자 한다 is the standard tone for academic objectives.

This pattern is especially useful at the beginning of papers, reports, presentations, and project descriptions. It tells the reader what the text intends to do, without sounding personal or emotional.

-는 바이다 is a highly formal written expression used to state an opinion, position, request, gratitude, apology, or official stance. The noun 바 means “thing”, “fact”, or “matter” in a formal abstract sense.

The structure often appears as 감사드리는 바이다, 요청하는 바이다, 강조하는 바이다, or 밝히는 바이다. It is common in official statements, institutional announcements, public letters, formal apologies, and ceremonial writing.

This is not everyday Korean. In normal speech, you would say 감사드립니다, 요청합니다, or 강조하고 싶습니다. But in official writing, -는 바입니다 or -는 바이다 gives the sentence institutional weight.

Advanced learners should treat this pattern as a recognition and production tool for formal documents. You do not need it for casual conversation, but it is very useful when reading official notices, university documents, public statements, and Korean administrative writing.