Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify
Repair misplaced and dangling modifiers
Clarity

Modifiers should point clearly to the words they modify. As a rule, related words should be kept together.

12a Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify.

Limiting modifiers such as only, even, almost, nearly, and just should appear in front of a verb only if they modify the verb: At first, I couldn’t even touch my toes, much less grasp them. If they limit the meaning of some other word in the sentence, they should be placed in front of that word.

When the limiting modifier not is misplaced, the sentence usually suggests a meaning the writer did not intend.