English contractions can make simple phrases surprisingly confusing, especially when an apostrophe changes the meaning of a sentence. A common example is “it’s called” vs “it called.” These expressions may look almost identical, but they perform completely different grammatical jobs. Knowing which one to use can make your writing clearer and help you avoid common grammar mistakes.
“It’s called” is normally the correct phrase when you want to say what something is named. For example, “This book is called The Great Gatsby” can become “It’s called The Great Gatsby.” On the other hand, “it called” uses called as a past-tense verb and needs a suitable context, usually with a person or thing as the subject. In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between these phrases, see practical examples, and discover an easy memory trick for choosing the right form.
Quick Answer
“It’s called” means “it is called” and is used to give something’s name or title. “It called” means that it performed the action of calling in the past. For names, titles, or descriptions, use “it’s called.”
Why People Confuse It
The confusion mainly comes from the apostrophe in it’s.
It’s is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” In the phrase “it’s called,” it means “it is called.”
By contrast, it without an apostrophe is simply a pronoun. In “it called,” the word called is the main verb.
Compare:
- It’s called a smartphone. → It is called a smartphone.
- It called me yesterday. → It made a phone call to me yesterday.
The first sentence gives a name or label. The second describes an action.
First Word: “It’s Called”
“It’s called” is correct when it’s = it is.
It is commonly used to tell someone the name, title, or label of something.
Examples:
- It’s called a dictionary.
- It’s called The Lost City.
- It’s called a solar eclipse.
- It’s called “customer service.”
- It’s called a technical error.
You can test the phrase by replacing it’s with it is:
It’s called a rainbow.
It is called a rainbow.
Because the expanded version makes sense, “it’s called” is correct.
Second Word: “It Called”
“It called” is grammatically possible, but it has a completely different meaning.
Here, it is the subject and called is the past-tense form of the verb call. The sentence means that something referred to, summoned, or contacted someone.
Examples:
- The machine called the number automatically.
- It called me twice.
- The system called the wrong extension.
- The bird called loudly from the tree.
Notice that “it called” does not normally mean “it is named.”
If you want to give something a name, use “it’s called.”
Comparison Table
| Phrase | Meaning | Grammar | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| It’s called | It is named | Contraction + passive verb | It’s called a laptop. |
| It called | It made a call or summoned someone | Pronoun + past-tense verb | It called me yesterday. |
| It is called | It is named | Full form | It is called a laptop. |
| It has called | It has contacted someone | Present perfect | It has called three times. |
When to Use Each
Use “It’s called” when naming something
Choose “it’s called” when explaining what something is named.
- This dish is called biryani.
- It’s called a keyboard.
- That movie is called Inception.
- The process is called evaporation.
Use “It called” when describing an action
Choose “it called” when it actually performed the action of calling.
- The phone called the emergency number automatically.
- It called my office at noon.
- The computer called the server.
- The robot called for assistance.
A simple question can help:
Are you giving something a name? → Use “it’s called.”
Are you saying that something made a call? → Use “it called.”
Examples of “It’s Called” and “It Called”
Here are practical examples showing the difference:
- It’s called a compass.
→ You are giving the object its name. - It called me this morning.
→ Something contacted you. - It’s called the Pacific Ocean.
→ You are stating a geographical name. - The automated system called me.
→ The system made a phone call. - It’s called a deadline.
→ You are identifying a term. - It called the wrong number.
→ Something made a call. - The process is called photosynthesis.
→ You are stating the process’s name. - It called for help.
→ It requested assistance. - It’s called a keyboard shortcut.
→ You are identifying a term. - The device called the technician automatically.
→ The device performed the action. - It’s called a traditional recipe.
→ You are describing what it is called. - It called again after five minutes.
→ It made another call.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “it called” for a name
❌ It called a smartphone.
This does not mean “It is named a smartphone.”
✅ It’s called a smartphone.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the apostrophe
❌ Its called a smartphone.
Its is normally a possessive word, as in:
The dog wagged its tail.
When you mean “it is,” use “it’s.”
Mistake 3: Adding an apostrophe to every “its”
Not every use of its requires an apostrophe.
- Its color is blue. → possession
- It’s blue. → it is blue
- It’s called blue. → it is called blue
Mistake 4: Assuming “called” always means “named”
The verb call has several meanings. It can mean name, contact by phone, shout, summon, or request depending on the context.
Memory Trick
Use this quick test:
“It’s” = “it is.”
If you can replace it’s with it is, use the apostrophe.
If you mean that something performed the action of calling, use it called.
Name = it’s called.
Action = it called.
American vs British English
There is essentially no difference between American and British English regarding the basic distinction between “it’s called” and “it called.”
Both varieties use:
- It’s called… for names, titles, labels, and descriptions.
- It called… when it performed the action of calling.
The pronunciation and spelling may vary in other areas of English, but this grammar rule remains consistent.
Similar Words and Phrases
Several expressions are related to “it’s called” and “it called.”
- It is called — the formal, expanded version of “it’s called”
- It’s known as — another way to introduce a name or description
- It’s named — emphasizes a given name
- It is referred to as — more formal
- It called me — describes a past calling action
- It has called — describes a completed calling action connected to the present
- It will call — describes a future calling action
For example:
It’s called a shortcut.
It is known as a shortcut.
It is referred to as a shortcut.
These expressions can communicate similar ideas, although their style and emphasis differ.
FAQs:
Is “it’s called” grammatically correct?
Yes. “It’s called” is grammatically correct when it’s means “it is.” It is commonly used to state the name or title of something.
Is “it called” correct English?
Yes, but it has a different meaning. “It called” uses called as a past-tense verb and means that something performed the action of calling.
Should I write “its called” or “it’s called”?
Write “it’s called” when you mean “it is called.” The apostrophe shows that it’s is a contraction.
What is the difference between “it’s” and “its”?
It’s is a contraction meaning “it is” or “it has.” Its is a possessive determiner.
- It’s cold.
- The dog ate its food.
Can “it called” mean “it was named”?
No. “It called” normally describes an action performed by it. To say something was given or known by a name, use “it’s called” or “it is called.”
Is “it’s called” formal or informal?
“It’s called” is natural in both everyday and formal English. In especially formal writing, you can use “it is called” instead.
What is an easy way to remember the difference?
Remember: “It’s called” = it is called. If you are naming or identifying something, choose “it’s called.” If something performed a calling action, choose “it called.”
Final Verdict
The correct choice depends on what you want to say.
Use “it’s called” when you are giving something a name, title, label, or description:
Use “it called” when you mean that something made a call or performed another action represented by the verb call:
The apostrophe is small, but it changes the grammatical function of the phrase. When in doubt, expand “it’s” to “it is.” If the sentence still makes sense, “it’s called” is probably the form you need.
Remember This
It’s called = It is called → naming or identifying something.
It called = It performed the action of calling → past action.
When talking about the name of something, write “it’s called.”
Conclusion
Understanding “it’s called vs it called” is easier once you focus on the apostrophe and the role of called. “It’s called” is the phrase you need when identifying a name, title, term, or label. It is simply the contracted form of “it is called.”
“It called,” however, describes a past action. Although both phrases are grammatically valid in the right context, they cannot normally be used interchangeably. Remember the simple rule: names use “it’s called,” while calling actions use “it called.” This distinction will help you write more accurate and natural English.
