The spelling of the word "were fence" can be explained through its IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "were" is pronounced as /wər/, with a short "u" sound and a silent "e" at the end. The second syllable "fence" is pronounced as /fɛns/, with a short "e" sound and a "s" sound at the end. "Were fence" together forms a compound word that refers to a fence that was previously present but is no longer there. It is important to use correct spelling and pronunciation to ensure effective communication in written and spoken language.