How Do You Spell RAN FLAGPOLE?

Pronunciation: [ɹˈan flˈaɡpə͡ʊl] (IPA)

The correct spelling of the word "ran flagpole" is actually "rank pulpit". The confusion in the spelling is due to the pronunciation of these words in certain accents. In IPA phonetic transcription, "rank pulpit" is pronounced as /ræŋk ˈpʊlpɪt/. The "r" sound is pronounced with a slight "ng" sound in the back of the throat which can sometimes sound like an "n" sound. Therefore, the word "rank" may be misheard as "ran". Similarly, the "l" sound in "pulpit" can sometimes sound like a "w" sound, hence the confusion with "flagpole".