The spelling of the phrase "is ones tail" may seem confusing at first glance. However, using IPA phonetic transcription, it becomes clearer: /ɪz wʌnz teɪl/. The "z" in "is" indicates that the word is in the third person singular present tense. "Ones" is spelled with an "s" instead of an apostrophe "s" to indicate that it is a possessive pronoun. "Tail" is spelled with an "ai" instead of an "ale" because it is pronounced with a long "a" sound, as in "day."