The word "scrimpiest" is spelled with the letter "i" after "m" instead of the traditional "e". This deviation results from the phonetic transcription of the word. "Scrimp" is pronounced with a short "i" sound, and adding the suffix "-iest" requires a spelling that reflects the sound. Thus, "i" is used instead of "e". The IPA phonetic transcription for "scrimpiest" is /ˈskrɪmpiɪst/. It is important to correctly spell words to ensure effective communication and avoid confusion.