I'm reading through Tae Kims grammar guide and have just got into the last
section. It says that である is the formal state of being.

Can anyone tell me...why is this?

It would seem logical to me based on what I've learned that であります should be
the formal state of being. Does this mean something different?

Why is である all you need for this formal state of being?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-21T05:34:42.803
15512
2014-04-21T05:46:14.100
5195
question
grammar formality
formal state of being
ます・です forms are basically for the conversation and not really for writings. I
don't find です・ます formal though I find them polite.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-21T05:46:14.100
15513
2014-04-21T05:46:14.100
4092
15512
answer