The spelling "wert on scene" may initially seem confusing, as the pronunciation has evolved over time. The word "wert" is an archaic form of "were," meaning "were present." The "on scene" portion refers to being present at a location or event. The spelling is linked to Middle English, where the pronunciation included a "w" sound at the beginning of "were" that has since disappeared. The IPA transcription for "wert on scene" would be /wɛr ɒn siːn/.