The spelling of "wast after" may seem confusing at first glance, but it can be easily explained through IPA phonetic transcription. The word "wast" is pronounced /wɑst/ with a short "a" sound and a silent "e." Similarly, "after" is pronounced /ˈæftər/ with a short "a" sound and a pronounced "e." Therefore, the correct spelling of this phrase follows the traditional English spelling rules for these two words. It is important to take the time to understand the phonetics of words to ensure proper spelling and pronunciation.