What the language institute says
Korea’s National Institute of Korean Language answers spelling questions online. Asked in October 2025 how to write the number 100 on manuscript paper, it replied that manuscript paper usage is not covered by the official language regulations, and suggested following common practice or reference books. The orthography defines what punctuation marks mean, not which cell they go in.
Rules almost everyone shares
| What | Convention |
|---|---|
| One Hangul syllable | One cell |
| A space between words | One empty cell, except at the start of a line, where you just keep writing |
| New paragraph | Leave the first cell empty |
| Arabic numerals (two or more digits) and lowercase Latin letters | Two per cell |
| Uppercase Latin letters | One per cell |
| Period or comma that would start a new line | Squeeze it into the last cell of the previous line (or the margin) |
| Title | Skip the first line, center the title on the second |
Where textbooks differ
| Detail | Common practice | Also seen |
|---|---|---|
| After a period or comma | No empty cell, keep writing | Leave one empty cell |
| After a question or exclamation mark | Leave one empty cell | — |
| Period + closing quote | Share one cell | Two separate cells |
| A space lost at a line break | Mark ∨ at the end of the line | No mark |
| Odd-length numbers (100) | 10 | 0 | 1 | 00 |
If you know Japanese grid paper
Japanese genkō yōshi and Korean wongoji look alike: a grid where each character gets a square. The details are not the same, though. Korean is usually written horizontally with spaces between words, and those spaces take cells. Do not carry Japanese placement habits for punctuation straight over to a Korean assignment.
What the app follows
The Android app Manuscript Paper applies the shared rules automatically. For the details that differ, it picks one behavior, so you only adjust those spots when copying by hand.
Type as usual
On the Write tab, enter an optional title and your text. Press Enter for a new paragraph and the first cell is left empty for you.
Know the two differences
If you type a space after a period, the app keeps it as an empty cell. If your teacher wants no gap after periods, leave that space out. A period followed by a closing quote takes two cells in the app.
The app’s English screenshots show a Korean sample text, because the grid is meant for writing in Korean.
FAQ
Will a grader take points off for wongoji mistakes?
It depends on the exam. See the TOPIK II writing answer sheet for what matters most there.
Is there a book that counts as the standard?
No single one. Use the textbook or instructions your class or exam uses, and stay consistent within one paper.
Sources: National Institute of Korean Language, online Q&A on writing numbers on wongoji, Oct 2025 (Korean) · EBS reading diagnostic, how to write on manuscript paper (Korean)
Manuscript Paper: Writing Pad
Type the normal way and see it laid out on Korean manuscript paper instantly. No sign-up, works offline, and your writing stays on your phone. Free on Android, in English and Korean.