1. At the beginning of the sentence (Emphasis on surprise):
* To her great surprise, the old, dusty box contained a treasure map.
* To her great surprise, she found herself falling in love with the grumpy neighbor.
2. In the middle of the sentence (Emphasis on the action or event):
* The old, dusty box, to her great surprise, contained a treasure map.
* She found herself falling in love with the grumpy neighbor, to her great surprise.
3. At the end of the sentence (Emphasis on the feeling of surprise):
* The old, dusty box contained a treasure map, to her great surprise.
* She found herself falling in love with the grumpy neighbor, to her great surprise.
4. Using commas to set off the phrase:
* The old, dusty box, to her great surprise, contained a treasure map.
* She found herself falling in love with the grumpy neighbor, to her great surprise.
5. Using dashes to set off the phrase:
* The old, dusty box — to her great surprise — contained a treasure map.
* She found herself falling in love with the grumpy neighbor — to her great surprise.
Choosing the Best Placement:
* Emphasis: The placement of the phrase affects the emphasis of the sentence. Beginning placement highlights the surprise, while ending placement emphasizes the feeling.
* Clarity: Choose a placement that makes the sentence flow smoothly and avoids awkwardness.
* Style: Consider the overall tone and rhythm of your writing when deciding on the placement.
Remember, there is no single "best" placement. The best option depends on your specific context and desired effect.