The proper spelling of the word "honests" is, in fact, "honest." This is because "honest" is an adjective, and in English, adjectives do not take a plural form. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word "honest" would be transcribed as /ˈɑnəst/, with the stress on the first syllable. People often mistakenly add an "s" to words like "honest," but it is important to remember that proper spelling and grammar are crucial to effective communication.