The correct spelling of the phrase "were ones back" can be explained with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as follows: /wɜr wʌnz bæk/. The IPA symbols represent the sounds of the words: "were" is pronounced with a short "e" sound and a voiced "r" sound, "ones" is pronounced with a long "o" sound, a neutral "n" sound, and a voiced "z" sound, and "back" is pronounced with a short "a" sound and a voiceless "k" sound. Correct spelling ensures clear communication and understanding.