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Placement of limiting modifiers
Introduction

Limiting modifiers—almost, even, hardly, just, merely, nearly, not, only and simply—should always go immediately before the word or words they modify. If you separate the two, you run the risk of confusing your reader: not only is the relationship between the modifier and its relative less clear, the meaning of limiting modifiers frequently changes depending on their placement.

Follow this simple plan for placing a limiting modifier in a sentence:

Find the word or words it modifies. If you're confused about which word is being modified, test the modifier with each candidate.
1. She gave almost $500 to charity.
2. She almost gave $500 to charity.
In example a, she made a contribution of almost $500. In example b, she almost gave, meaning that she might not have given anything at all!
Place the modifier right next to the word or words it modifies.

Remember: Make it a habit to keep limiting modifiers as close as possible to the word or words they modify.