Level Up Your Thesis: Avoid These Common Korean Grammar Traps!
Hello! Welcome back to [Maeil Hangul], your guide to upgrading your Korean skills!
Are you writing a thesis, a report, or an academic paper in Korean? If so, you know that every word counts. Using precise and formal language is key to making your work sound credible and professional. But even for advanced learners, some tricky grammar points can sneak in and weaken your arguments.
These days in Korea, with a growing number of international students and researchers, writing a flawless academic paper is a crucial skill for success. Today, we’re going to dive into some of the most common grammatical errors found in academic writing and learn how to fix them. Let’s polish your writing until it shines!
Core Expressions for Flawless Academic Writing
Here are three common traps and how to avoid them. Mastering these will instantly make your writing more sophisticated.
1. The Possessive Overload: Taming ‘의’ (ui)
- The Issue: Overusing the possessive particle ‘의’ (e.g., 정부의 정책의 목표).
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Gwadohan ‘ui’ sayong (ye: jeongbu-ui jeongchaeg-ui mokpyo)
- English Meaning: Overuse of the possessive particle ‘of’.
- Detailed Explanation: In English, it’s common to stack ‘of’ (e.g., “the goal of the policy of the government”). A direct translation into Korean results in multiple ‘의’ particles, which sounds clunky and unnatural. This is a classic example of 번역투 (beonyeoktu), or “translation-style” Korean. To sound more natural, rephrase the sentence by using other particles or turning nouns into descriptive phrases.
- Clunky: 정부의 정책의 목표 (The goal of the policy of the government)
- Natural: 정부 정책의 목표 (The government policy’s goal)
- More Advanced: 정부가 추진하는 정책의 목표 (The goal of the policy that the government is pursuing)
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The pronunciation of ‘의’ is tricky! When used as the possessive particle, its standard pronunciation is [ui]. However, in natural, fast speech, it’s often pronounced as [e]. In a formal setting like an academic presentation, sticking closer to the standard [ui] pronunciation is recommended. For example, ‘정부의’ is pronounced [jeongbu-ui] formally, but often sounds like [jeongbu-e] in conversation.
2. Citing Sources: ‘-에 따르면’ (e ttareumyeon) vs. ‘-에 의하면’ (e uihamyeon)
- Korean Expression: -에 따르면 vs. -에 의하면
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: -e ttareumyeon vs. -e uihamyeon
- English Meaning: According to…
- Detailed Explanation: This is a subtle but critical distinction for academic integrity.
- -에 따르면 is used to directly cite a source of information, like a person, a study, a report, or data. This is your go-to phrase for quoting research.
- -에 의하면 is used to state the basis, method, or foundation upon which a statement is made. It’s more about the principle or theory behind something.
- Rule of thumb: If you can answer the question “Who said it?” or “Which data shows it?”, use -에 따르면.
- Correct: 선행 연구에 따르면… (According to previous research…)
- Correct: 통계청 자료에 따르면… (According to data from the National Statistical Office…)
- Context-specific: 피아제의 이론에 의하면 인간은… (Based on Piaget’s theory, humans are…)
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Notice the sound change in ‘의하면’. The ‘ㅎ(h)’ sound is very weak and becomes silent when placed between vowels. Therefore, ‘의하(ui-ha)’ is pronounced as if it were [의아(uia)]. The full phrase sounds like [e uiamyeon]. This liaison (연음) rule is key to sounding natural!
3. Formal Logic: ‘-(으)므로’ (-(eu)meuro) vs. ‘-기 때문에’ (-gi ttaemune)
- Korean Expression: -(으)므로 vs. -기 때문에
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: -(eu)meuro vs. -gi ttaemune
- English Meaning: Because / Therefore / As…
- Detailed Explanation: Both express cause and effect, but their formality and usage differ greatly.
- -기 때문에 is a neutral connector used in both speaking and writing. It can sometimes carry a slightly subjective nuance.
- -(으)므로 is a highly formal connector used almost exclusively in academic papers, legal documents, and official announcements. It states an objective, logical reason for the following clause. It establishes a fact-based premise for a conclusion.
- In your thesis, when presenting a logical argument, choose -(으)므로.
- Good: 본 연구는 질적 연구 방법을 사용했기 때문에 일반화에 한계가 있다. (This is okay, but can be improved.)
- Better: 본 연구는 질적 연구 방법을 사용하였으므로 일반화에 한계가 있다. (This sounds more objective and academic.)
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The ‘으(eu)’ in ‘-(으)므로’ is a buffer vowel. It’s added only when the verb stem ends in a consonant to make it easier to pronounce.- Vowel stem: 하다 (hada) → 하므로 (hameuro)
- Consonant stem: 높다 (nopda) → 높으므로 (nopeumeuro)
Example Dialogue: Professor’s Feedback
Here’s how these concepts might appear in a real-life academic setting.
- 대학원생 (Graduate Student) A: 교수님, 논문 초고를 검토해 주실 수 있으신가요? 특히 서론 부분이 좀 어색하게 느껴져서요. “김 교수의 연구의 결과에 의하면…” 이렇게 썼는데 괜찮을까요?
(Professor, could you please review my thesis draft? I feel the introduction is a bit awkward. I wrote, “According to the result of the research of Professor Kim…” Is that okay?) -
교수님 (Professor) B: 아, 이 부분이군요. 내용은 좋은데 표현을 조금 다듬으면 좋겠어요. 먼저, ‘의’를 두 번 쓰는 것보다 ‘김 교수의 연구 결과에 따르면‘이라고 하는 게 훨씬 자연스러워요. 그리고 인용할 때는 ‘-에 의하면’보다 ‘-에 따르면’이 더 정확한 표현입니다.
(Ah, this part. The content is good, but let’s refine the expression. First, instead of using ‘의’ twice, it’s more natural to say, “According to Professor Kim’s research results.” Also, when citing a source, ‘-에 따르면’ is the more precise term than ‘-에 의하면’.)
Culture Tip & Deeper Dive
In the Korean academic world, 논리성 (nolliseong – logicality) and 객관성 (gaekgwanseong – objectivity) are paramount. Your choice of grammar is not just about being “correct”—it’s about signaling your scholarly rigor.
Using formal connectors like ‘-(으)므로’ shows your professor that you understand how to construct a logical, objective argument. Similarly, avoiding 번역투 (beonyeoktu – translation-style writing), like the overuse of ‘의’, demonstrates a sophisticated command of the Korean language. It proves you’re not just translating thoughts from your native language but are truly thinking and writing like a Korean scholar. Think of it as wearing the proper formal attire for an important academic ceremony!
Let’s Practice!
Ready to apply what you’ve learned? Try these short exercises.
- Make it Natural: How would you rewrite the following sentence to sound more academic and less clunky?
이 보고서의 목적의 핵심은 A 현상의 원인을 분석하는 것이다.
(The core of the purpose of this report is to analyze the cause of phenomenon A.) - Choose the Right Word: Fill in the blank with the most appropriate connector for an academic paper.
모든 참가자가 실험에 동의하였(기 때문에 / 으므로), 연구 윤리 기준을 준수하였다.
(Because all participants consented to the experiment, the research ethics standards were met.)
Great job today! Polishing these small details will make a huge difference in the quality of your academic writing.
Why not try correcting a sentence from your own work using today’s tips? Share it in the comments below!
