What is the difference between とある and ある?


As far as I'm aware, とある means 'some':

> とある会社の従業員  
>  An employee of some company

And just ある can be used to mean the same thing.

Does that give a different level of formality? A more 'direct' or pointed way
to referring to the following noun?




They are the same thing. However, 「ある」 is more common nowadays, especially
among the younger generation.

Sources:

  * [Chiebukuro](http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1296602837)
  * [lang-8](http://lang-8.com/554045/journals/287427577267505715082110860385120298845)




They are the same thing. However, 「ある」 is more common nowadays, especially
among the younger generation.

Sources:

  * [Chiebukuro](http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1296602837)
  * [lang-8](http://lang-8.com/554045/journals/287427577267505715082110860385120298845)

