If the USFM code is properly written, the footnote or crossreference caller is always connected to the word it belongs to.
This is an example of proper code:
Joseph was a good man\f + \ft Or “kind man”.\f*
The following two examples of code will cause the footnote caller to detach from the word it belongs to:
Example one:
Joseph was a good man \f + \ft Or “kind man”.\f*
Note the space between "man" and the "\f".
Example two:
Joseph was a good man \f + \ft Or “kind man”.\f*
In USFM a new line is equal to a space, hence there is a space between "man" and the "\f" here also.
Many older projects started a new line for each marker, also for the footnotes. This needs correction in the current system. All note markers (footnotes and cross-references) should not start on a new line, but follow immediately the word it belongs to (without even a space).
Note that in newer versions of Bibledit the \f ... code for footnotes is no longer visible - only the note itself is visible.