Does it sound natural?

Question

remains one of the most popular wedding venues in the world even today. (POSITION OF “EVEN TODAY”)

2) The original fortified castle dating back to the 15^th century didn´t survive for a long period. (PAST TENSE?)

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi Elf;
I'm American, so the naturalness might be a bit different in Scotland.

EffHi everybody,
I can´t decide myself if these sentences are correct. Could you please help me? In brackets, I emphasize what I´m not sure about:

1) Gretna Green remains one of the most popular wedding venues in the world even today. (POSITION OF “EVEN TODAY”) It's fine.

2) The original fortified castle dating back to the 15^th century didn´t survive for a long period. (PAST TENSE?) Yes. It's fine.

3) Thanks to its location, it is a favourite place for trips for (OF?) Glaswegians. For is better.

4) Inside the castle, there is a visitor centre offering souvenirs and local maps. (SHOULD „INSIDE THE CASTLE“ BE PLACED AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE?) Can do; both positions are fine.

5) The village is full of tiny stone houses encompassed by flowering gardens. (CAN I USE „ENCOMPASSED“ IN CONTEXT WITH GARDENS?) Yes, but "surrounded by" might be more commonplace.

6) The name of this region (East Neuk) signifies the eastern tip of the Kingdom of Fife. (IS IT CLEAR LIKE THIS OR SHOULD I ADD "The name of this region signifies ITS POSITION ON the eastern tip of the Kingdom of Fife."?) This one is a bit strange. I assume that "Neuk" is a local place name that has a historical significance. So the use in the sentence will depend on the word's history.

7) This part of Scotland is also renowned for its little houses with red pantile roofs. (POSITION OF WORDS – renowned also OR also renowned?) It's fine as written. but don't you mean pantiled?

8) After having a row with a captain, Selkirk had been left on a desert island where he spent four years. (PAST PERFECT TENSE?) Yes, but simple past is OK, too- "was left".

9) Not far from the cathedral you can admire St Andrews Castle which was extended throughout several centuries. (PAST TENSE?) Yes. However, "extended throughout" is not the best expression if you mean it was built over a period of several centuries. "St Andrews Castle which was built and expanded over...."

10) The oldest part of the campus was the old university library. (OR: "The old university library was the oldest part of the campus."??) Both expressions are fine.

11) What makes St Andrews unique in Scotland, it is the students´custom of wearing red gowns while walking through the town or along the harbour on Sundays.

12) The seashore village of Lower Largo is interesting for being the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk who inspired Daniel Defoe to write his book about Robinson Crusoe. (WOULD A NATIVE SPEAKER SAY IT LIKE THIS? - interesting for being a birthplace...) Yes, but there is only one birthplace of a person, so use the definite article.

Thank you for your help!

Does it sound natural?

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