The spelling of the word "tinsman" can be confusing due to its non-standard appearance. However, when broken down phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the spelling becomes clearer. "Tinsman" is pronounced as /tɪnz.mən/, with the stress on the first syllable, and the "i" is pronounced as a short "i" sound as in "pit". The "s" in "tins" is pronounced as a soft "z", as in "rise". Overall, the spelling of "tinsman" follows typical English phonetic rules.