The spelling of "wert defective" may seem unusual to some, but it follows the rules of English pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /wərt dɪˈfɛktɪv/. The "wert" portion is the past tense of "be" in the subjunctive mood, and is pronounced with a schwa sound and a soft "r". "Defective" is spelled phonetically, with the stress on the second syllable and a short "e" sound. This may take some getting used to, but it is a correct and valid spelling according to English grammar rules.