Which sounds better/is correct, "highly value" or "value highly"?

I would say the latter: "I would value highly an opportunity..." Both seem right. Go with the one that suits you. I don't pretend to be a expert in grammar.

What I have found though is if it sounds right when read out aloud, it generally is.

In my opinion in contex, value highly would be the way that I would use it, but what do I know. Sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling and to hell with it. You are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The better answer to my ear is highly value. "Value highly" is likely to cause a "split infinitive. "Example: Miserable people value highly the misery of others.

Miserable people highly value the misery of others. Miserable people value the misery of others, very highly. It's usually better not to separate the action and target.

I chose not to include this in my hub on grammar, because it is a contentious issue among grammar-heads.

Get rid of the highly, and you solve the problem; it's unnecessary and only leads you to the trap of over emphasis.

I would say, "I would highly value..." I think it is a split infinitive or one of those things I never learned in school, but it sounds better to my ear. I'm no flipping expert but I think that you want to keep "would value"...the two verbs together if you wanted to avoid a split infinitive. On the other hand, I believe that people should use the words in the way that makes the most sense and sounds right.To me, the "wrong way" is better.

I would say "would highly value". In my opinion, splitting up the two verbs is a way to place more emphasis on what you are saying. And IMHO splitting the verbs gives added emphasis to the word "highly".

Crap, now I have to go look this up.

For me highly value sounds good, highly value and value highly perhaps have different meaning.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.