Adverbs add interest and information to your writing. It is important, though, to be intentional about where you place your adverbs.
Some adverbs, such as not or never, should only be placed next to the verb. Other adverbs can go either next to the verb or at the end of the sentence. Be sure to put each adverb where it works best for conveying your intended meaning.
Stuart carefully walked through the woods.
Stuart walked carefully through the woods.
In both these sentences, the adverb carefully is placed right next to the verb it modifies.
Stuart walked through the woods carefully.
Now the adverb is at the end of the sentence. Although technically correct, this sentence is not as clear as the first two sentences. The adverb works better right next to the verb.
Stuart walked through the woods late last night carefully.
This does not work. The adverb carefully is too far from the verb. The reader will struggle to connect the adverb carefully with the verb walked.
Look at these examples. Each sentence has an adverb right next to the verb. Each sentence reads well.
The train crawled slowly up the mountain side.
Dad whistled merrily as he strung lights on the Christmas tree.
The teacher lectured endlessly about the difficulties of the Oregon Trail.
Try moving each each bolded adverb to the end of the sentence. Now the meaning is no longer clear.
Place an adverb close to the verb it modifies. An adverb at the end of the sentence isn’t always wrong, but it has potential to be confusing. To be safe, an adverb should sit next to the verb it modifies.