"One" and "Once" and for all

There is a similar issue with the words, “one” and “once”. In terms of phonetics, there could be better spellings for these words. Once again, some strange logic became part of the English language.

“Similarly, if you’ve ever wondered how on earth a word spelled one could be pronounced ‘wun’ and once spelled ‘wunce’, the answer in both cases is that Southern (England) pronunciations attached themselves to East Midland spellings. Once they were pronounced more or less as spelled – i.e., ‘oon’ and ‘oons’.” – The Mother Tongue – English & How It Got That Way, Bill Brysen, ISBN: 0-380-71543-0, page 124.