Citing Statistics and Sources

Persuasive argument rests on concrete statistics and reliable citations. This lesson covers the formal expressions for presenting numerical data and attributing it to its source.

Presenting Statistics

통계청 자료에 따르면, 청년 실업률은 지난해 대비 3퍼센트 증가했습니다.

tonggyecheong jaryoe ttareumyeon, cheongnyeon sireomnyureun jinanhae daebi sam peosenteu jeunggahaetseumnida.

According to data from the National Statistical Office, the youth unemployment rate rose by 3 percent compared with last year.

설문 조사 결과, 응답자의 절반 이상이 찬성하는 것으로 나타났습니다.

seolmun josa gyeolgwa, eungdapjaui jeolban isangi chanseonghaneun geoseuro natananseumnida.

The survey found that more than half of respondents were in favor.

이 수치는 전체 예산의 약 4분의 1을 차지합니다.

i suchineun jeonche yesanui yak sa bunui ireul chajihamnida.

This figure accounts for about a quarter of the total budget.

Citing Sources

Phrases like "~에 따르면" (according to...), "~가 발표한 보고서에 의하면" (per the report published by...), and "~의 연구 결과를 인용하자면" (to cite the findings of...) are central to underscoring the credibility of a source.

한 연구 기관이 발표한 보고서에 의하면, 재생에너지 비중이 두 배로 늘었습니다.

han yeongu giganі balphyohan bogoseoe uihamyeon, jaesaengeneoji bijungi du baero neureotseumnida.

According to a report published by a research institute, the share of renewable energy has doubled.

전문가들의 견해를 인용하자면, 이 추세는 향후 10년간 지속될 전망입니다.

jeonmungadeurui gyeonhaereul inyonghajamyeon, i chuseneun hyanghu sip nyeongan jisokdoel jeonmangimnida.

To cite the views of experts, this trend is projected to continue for the next ten years.

Acknowledging a Source's Limits

For a fair argument, also admit the limits of your data. Adding a caveat like "다만 표본이 제한적이라는 점은 고려해야 합니다" (that said, the sample is limited and should be taken into account) actually strengthens your credibility.

다만 이 조사는 표본이 제한적이라는 점을 함께 밝힙니다.

daman i josaneun pyobon-i jehanjeogiraneun jeomeul hamkke balkimnida.

That said, I should note that this survey had a limited sample.

Expression	Function
~에 따르면	Citing a source
~로 나타났습니다	Survey result
~배 증가/감소했습니다	Rate of change
~을 차지합니다	Stating a proportion
~로 나타났습니다	Reporting a finding
다만 ~라는 한계가 있습니다	Noting limitations

💡 Tip: Whenever you quote a figure, name its source, or you won't earn trust. A statistic with no source actually weakens the persuasiveness of your claim.

A comparison is also more effective than a bare figure. "전년 대비 두 배 증가한 5만 명" (50,000, double last year's) leaves a stronger impression on an audience than "5만 명" (50,000) alone.

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