In "Half Broke Horses," Jeannette Walls shares insights into her father's literary endeavors, particularly his work on a book that promotes phonetic spelling. He creatively titled it "A Ghoti out of Water," cleverly using the unconventional spelling "ghoti" to illustrate his argument. This unconventional spelling draws on different sounds from standard English words to represent the word 'fish.'

Through this example, Walls highlights her father's belief in the complexity and inconsistencies of the English language. The title itself serves as a playful yet insightful critique of traditional spelling conventions, showcasing how language can be both fascinating and perplexing.