The spelling of the word "halfabob" can be explained by its IPA phonetic transcription. It is pronounced as /hælfəbɒb/. The first syllable "half" is spelled just as it sounds, with the 'a' pronounced as a short 'a'. The following syllable "a" is pronounced with the schwa /ə/. The final syllable "bob" has a silent 'o' and is pronounced with a short 'o' sound. Overall, the spelling of "halfabob" accurately represents its pronunciation in IPA transcription.