The spelling of the word "was advantage" seems simple enough, until one considers the subtle nuances of English pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, "was" is written as /wʌz/, with the "a" sound pronounced as a short "uh" sound. "Advantage," on the other hand, is written as /ədˈvæntɪdʒ/, with the "a" sound pronounced more like a short "ah" sound. These small differences in vowel sounds can make a big difference in accurately conveying meaning through written language.