The spelling of the word "cogan" might seem straightforward, but it can actually be confusing. The correct pronunciation is /ˈkoʊɡən/, with a long "o" sound and a soft "g." However, many people might pronounce it with a short "o" sound, making it sound like "caw-gan." This might be due to a similar-sounding word, "cogent," which does have a short "o" sound. It's important to pay attention to the phonetic transcription and practice saying the word correctly to avoid any misunderstandings.