An adverb usually relates to a verb. It in that case does something to the verb. But it can also concern an adjective. Or indeed any part of speech, except a noun. And it often ends with "ly", as in "simply" or "oftenly". Or "stupidly".

So do you think it should adjoin the verb (or adjective or other part of speech) to which it relates?

Think about one of the Supreme Court cases that came out today. The start said:

This case requires us to decide whether two federal law enforcement agents are immune from suit for allegedly arresting a suspect in retaliation for his political speech, when the agents had probable cause to arrest the suspect for committing a federal crime.

Reichle v. Howards, No. 11-262, slip op. 1 (U.S. June 4, 2012).

Did the author put the adverb — "allegedly" — in the right spot? Or should it have gone just before "in retaliation" — as in "are immune from a suit for arresting a suspect allegedly in retaliation for his political speech"?

The Court held, by the way, that Secret Service agents deserved immunity from a claim that accused them of wrongfully clapping irons on someone due to the fact that he objected on political grounds to the views of a high-ranking politician. Arresting someone for political reasons, the Court held, didn't violate a clear constitutional right at the time since the Court hadn't yet disapproved having "probable cause" to arrest someone for a different reason (i.e., lying about whether the protestor touched the politician) as a basis for putting someone in custody.

Blawgletter doesn't think the Secret Service arrested Mr. Howards "allegedly". The Secret Service, we believe, admits that it arrested him. Mr. Howards alleges that he had a bad reason for the arrest.  RIght?