The spelling of the word "gilliard" can be deceiving due to the varying pronunciations of the letter "i" in English. In IPA phonetic transcription, "gilliard" is spelled as /ˈɡɪljərd/, where the "i" is pronounced as "ih" as in "sit" and the "a" is pronounced as "uh" as in "up." This spelling helps to differentiate it from the similar word "gillard," which would be pronounced with a long "a" sound /ˈɡɪlɑrd/. Correct spelling and pronunciation can help avoid confusion and miscommunication.