The spelling of "does number" may seem confusing, but it follows the standard pronunciation rules of English. The word "does" is pronounced with a short "o" sound, represented in IPA as /ʌ/. Meanwhile, the word "number" is pronounced with a long "u" sound, represented in IPA as /nuːmbər/. Therefore, when saying "does number" aloud, the two words should be pronounced as /dʌz ˈnʌmbər/. This may take some practice to get used to, but mastering the correct pronunciation can improve communication and prevent misunderstandings.