Placement of adverbs before the verbs they modify

Question

For some reason, it feels "right" for averbs to preceed the verbs they modify — whether they appear right before the verb, or at some earlier point in the clause. For instance:

"She gracefully danced."

... as opposed to:

"She danced gracefully."

Is there some reason why I would have this instinct? It's hard to believe that adverbs could be so flexible as to appear before or after the verb. It just feels sloppy. I feel like there must to be a consistent rule for the usage of adverbs.

On the other hand, placing the averb before the verb creates issues with split infinitives. Saying "To boldy go where no man has gone before" seems a bit clumsy. I'm not even sure how to get around this without placing the adverb after the verb. I'm strongly opposed to it.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

For some reason, it feels "right" for averbs to preceed the verbs they modify - whether they appear right before the verb, or at some earlier point in the clause. For instance:
"She gracefully danced."
... as opposed to:
"She danced gracefully."
Is there some reason why I would have this instinct?-- Your instinct is not good there. The second is the standard placement in that case.

It's hard to believe that adverbs could be so flexible as to appear before or after the verb. It just feels sloppy. I feel like there must to be a consistent rule for the usage of adverbs.-- Just guidelines. Some are more flexible that others.

On the other hand, placing the averb before the verb creates issues with split infinitives. Saying "To boldy go where no man has gone before" seems a bit clumsy. I'm not even sure how to get around this without placing the adverb after the verb. I'm strongly opposed to it.-- Opposition is not a good perspective to take on language; observation is a better choice. Split infinitives, for instance, have been accepted for centuries. Here is the American Heritage Dictionary's comment:

The “rule” against placing a word, especially an adverb, between to and the verb in an English infinitive ( To really learn a language, you have to stay in a place where it is spoken ) is based on an analogy with Latin, in which infinitives are only one word and hence cannot be “split.” The modeling of English style on Latin has in the past often been considered the epitome of good writing; the injunction against splitting the English infinitive is an example of the misguided application of this notion. Criticism of the split infinitive was especially strong in 19th-century usage guides. Nothing in the history of the infinitive in English, however, supports the so-called rule, and in many sentences, as in the example above, the only natural place for the modifying adverb is between to and the verb ( To really learn … ). Many modern speakers and writers depend on their ear for a natural sentence rather than on an arbitrary rule. Writers who ordinarily prefer not to split an infinitive will occasionally do so, to avoid awkward or stilted language.

Placement of adverbs before the verbs they modify

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