The correct spelling of the word "steinback" is actually "Steinbeck," pronounced as /ˈstaɪnbɛk/. The word refers to American author John Steinbeck, famous for works such as "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men." The spelling can be confusing due to the combination of the letter "e" and "a," which can be misleading when sounding out the word. However, the phonetic transcription clear up the confusion with the sounds /aɪ/ and /ɛ/.