The spelling of the word "melsby" can be explained through the use of phonetic transcription, specifically the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Melsby can be transcribed as /mɛlzbi/, with the "m" and "s" sounds represented by their respective IPA symbols. The "e" sound is represented by the symbol /ɛ/, while "l" is represented by /l/. The "z" and "b" sounds are also represented by their respective IPA symbols. Proper use of phonetic transcription helps accurately represent the pronunciation of words, including unique names like "melsby".