The correct spelling of the surname 'Mikelson' follows the principles of English phonetics, whereby each letter represents a distinct sound. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word "Mikelson" can be spelled as /ˈmaɪkəlsən/. This pronunciation guide indicates the sequence of sounds in the name, beginning with the long "i" sound, followed by a hard "k" sound, and ending with the "son" syllable pronounced as "sən". Thus, the correct spelling of a name like 'Mikelson' ensures accurate pronunciation and recognition.