It’s Called vs It Called becomes much clearer when you focus on the difference between each phrase and what it actually does in a sentence, rather than memorizing spelling alone.
If you are confused about it’s called, its called, and it called, start with the meaning. It’s called is the correct phrase for naming things, identifying something, or giving its name. By contrast, it called can describe a past action performed by a subject. The forms look nearly identical, and in speech they can sound nearly the same, which explains why English learners and writers often struggle with this subtle difference. The apostrophe in it’s called shows the contraction of “it is,” while its called is normally a wrong phrase when you mean that something has a particular name. Understanding this important difference makes your sentences more correct and natural.
The common grammar questions surrounding these forms often come from how spoken English compresses meaning and how writing expands it. When spoken, the expressions may sound almost identical, so the brain hears one version, while the fingers may type another on the page. That mistake becomes especially confusing when people think about sound instead of form and meaning. In professional writing and formal communication, the wrong phrase can make a sentence appear awkward or grammatically incorrect. American English and British English follow the same basic grammar here, although context still determines how an English expression should be understood.
A practical guide is to ask when you want to use the expression and whether you are naming something or describing an action. When you explain what something is called, choose it’s called. When a subject performed an action in the past, it called may be correct depending on the sentence. The rules are simple, so heavy memorization is unnecessary. From a careful writing perspective, checking the meaning first removes uncertainty more reliably than checking the spelling alone. Once the right form becomes familiar, you can choose it quickly and confidently every time, while avoiding common mistakes and making clear examples easier to understand.
It’s Called vs It Called: The Quick Answer
The simplest way to remember it’s called vs it called is to look at what you want to say.
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
| It’s called | It is named or known as something | It’s called a solar eclipse. |
| It is called | Same meaning as “it’s called” | It is called a solar eclipse. |
| It called | It made a call or contacted someone | It called me twice. |
| Its called | Incorrect when you mean “it is called” | Its called a solar eclipse. |
The most important distinction is between “is called” and “called.” The first construction uses the verb is plus the past participle called. Together, they create a passive construction that tells you what something is named.
For example:
It’s called the Grand Canyon.
You can expand it’s to it is:
It is called the Grand Canyon.
The sentence still makes perfect sense. That gives you a useful test for it’s.
Now consider:
It called me yesterday.
Here, called is the main verb. The subject it performs the action. You can’t expand it into it is because the sentence has a completely different structure.
What Does “It’s Called” Mean?
It’s called is a contraction of “it is called.” You use it when you identify the name, title, label, or common term for something.
The phrase can describe almost anything:
- A person’s name
- A place
- A food
- An animal
- A product
- A business
- A book
- A movie
- An app
- A scientific concept
- A social trend
- A process
- A medical or technical term
For example:
- It’s called a cappuccino.
- It’s called Mount Rainier.
- It’s called artificial intelligence.
- It’s called a hypothesis.
- It’s called the Pacific Ocean.
- It’s called dark mode.
- It’s called a deadline.
In each example, called doesn’t mean that something made a phone call. Instead, it tells you the name or recognized term for something.
The structure is straightforward:
It + is + called + name
When you contract it is, you get:
It’s + called + name
That gives you:
It’s called [name].
For example:
What is that flower called?
It’s called a sunflower.
The first sentence asks for the name. The second provides it.
Why “It’s Called” Is Grammatically Correct
The grammar becomes clearer when you separate the words.
In “It’s called a rose,” the word it’s means “it is.” The word called works as a past participle in a passive construction.
The object being discussed receives the naming action rather than performing it.
Compare these two sentences:
People call it a rose.
and
It is called a rose.
The first sentence uses an active structure. People perform the action of calling. The second uses a passive structure. It receives that action.
The shorter conversational version is:
It’s called a rose.
This is completely standard English.
The same pattern appears in many everyday expressions:
- It’s called a shortcut.
- It’s called a nickname.
- It’s called a receipt.
- It’s called a warranty.
- It’s called a browser.
The phrase works because “is called” functions as a unit.
What Does “It Called” Mean?
Unlike it’s called, the phrase it called can use called as a simple past verb.
Here, it acts as the subject and called describes an action that happened in the past.
For example:
It called me last night.
This means something or someone represented by it made a phone call to the speaker.
Another example is:
The automated system called me three times.
You could replace the automated system with it:
It called me three times.
The meaning is completely different from:
It’s called an automated system.
The first sentence describes an action. The second sentence identifies a name or description.
This distinction matters because removing is changes the grammar.
Compare the Two Structures
It’s called:
It’s called a smartwatch.
Meaning: It is named or known as a smartwatch.
It called:
It called me this morning.
Meaning: It contacted me this morning.
One tiny word changes the entire construction.
It’s Called vs It Called: The Grammar Difference
The easiest way to understand it’s called vs it called is to examine their grammatical jobs.
| Feature | It’s called | It called |
| Full form | It is called | It called |
| Main meaning | Named or known as | Made a call |
| “It’s” | Contraction | Not used |
| Verb structure | Is + called | Called |
| Typical tense | Present | Simple past |
| Common context | Names and labels | Phone calls or actions |
| Example | It’s called a comet. | It called me yesterday. |
The word is makes a major difference.
In “It’s called a comet,” is connects the subject with what people call it.
In “It called me yesterday,” called itself carries the past-tense meaning.
This is why “it called” isn’t simply a shorter version of “it’s called.” They’re separate grammatical constructions.
It’s Called vs It Is Called
Both “it’s called” and “it is called” are correct.
The difference usually involves tone, emphasis, and context, rather than grammar.
It’s called sounds natural and conversational:
It’s called a food processor.
It is called sounds slightly more formal or deliberate:
It is called a food processor.
In ordinary conversation, contractions are common because they make speech flow more naturally. In formal writing, writers sometimes use the complete form for emphasis or a more formal tone.
Consider these examples:
Casual conversation:
“What’s that tool called?”
“It’s called a torque wrench.”
Formal explanation:
“The device is commonly known as a torque wrench. It is called this because…”
Neither form is inherently more grammatically correct.
The choice depends on the surrounding writing.
It’s Called vs Its Called
Another common mistake involves it’s and its.
If you mean “it is called,” you need the apostrophe:
It’s called a laptop.
Not:
Its called a laptop.
The reason is simple. It’s is a contraction.
It’s = it is
Its is a possessive determiner.
For example:
The dog wagged its tail.
Here, its shows possession. The tail belongs to the dog.
You can’t replace its with it is:
The dog wagged it is tail.
That doesn’t work.
A useful memory trick is to expand the word.
If it is fits, use it’s.
It’s called a laptop.
It is called a laptop. ✓
If you’re showing possession, use its.
The laptop lost its battery cover. ✓
This distinction is one of the most common apostrophe problems in English.
Examples of “It’s Called” in Everyday English
The phrase appears constantly in normal conversation.
Imagine you’re at a restaurant and see a dish you’ve never tried.
“What’s that?”
Someone might answer:
“It’s called shakshuka.”
If you’re learning about technology, you might ask:
“What’s that setting called?”
The answer could be:
“It’s called two-factor authentication.”
The same structure works when explaining a concept:
“It’s called confirmation bias.”
Or when identifying a place:
“It’s called Yellowstone National Park.”
These examples all share the same idea: you are giving something a name or recognized term.
Examples of “It Called” in Real Sentences
It called becomes correct when called describes an action in the past.
Consider these examples:
- The phone called the emergency service automatically.
- It called me at 8 p.m.
- The system called the wrong number.
- It called twice before disconnecting.
- The robot called the customer after the order shipped.
- The device called the number stored in its memory.
In each sentence, called means some form of making or initiating a call.
However, the subject doesn’t always have to be a phone.
For example:
The bird called from the trees.
Here, called describes a sound made by the bird.
You could also write:
The bird called loudly at dawn.
Again, called is the past tense of call. It doesn’t identify the bird’s name.
When “It Called” Is Correct
Although it’s called is the phrase you normally need when discussing a name, it called isn’t automatically wrong.
It works when it performs an action.
For example:
The app called the support number automatically.
If the context makes the app clear, you can say:
It called the support number automatically.
Here, it is the subject. Called is the verb.
Another example:
The alarm system called the monitoring center.
You could later say:
It called the monitoring center after detecting smoke.
This sentence describes what the system did.
A Useful Test
Ask yourself:
Am I saying what something is named?
If yes, use:
It’s called…
If you’re saying that something made a call, use:
It called…
That one question resolves most cases.
Common Mistakes With “It’s Called”
The most common mistake is leaving out is when naming something.
Incorrect:
It called a keyboard.
Correct:
It’s called a keyboard.
Or:
It is called a keyboard.
Another mistake involves the apostrophe.
Incorrect:
Its called a keyboard.
Correct:
It’s called a keyboard.
The apostrophe matters because it signals the contraction it is.
A third mistake occurs when writers assume that called always refers to a name. It doesn’t. Called can also mean contacted someone, shouted, summoned someone, or produced a sound.
Context determines the meaning.
Common Mistakes With “It Called”
Writers sometimes use it called because they see called and assume the sentence can stand without is.
For example:
This object it called a widget.
This construction doesn’t work in standard English.
Better:
This object is called a widget.
Or:
It’s called a widget.
However, it called can be correct in a different sentence:
It called the technician.
The difference isn’t about spelling alone. It’s about sentence structure and meaning.
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Case Study: Naming Something vs Describing an Action
Imagine a smart home device.
A person asks:
“What is this device called?”
The natural answer is:
“It’s called a smart thermostat.”
Now imagine the device automatically contacts a service after detecting a problem.
A technician explains:
“It called the service center after detecting the fault.”
Both sentences use called, but they do completely different jobs.
| Sentence | What it tells you |
| It’s called a smart thermostat. | The device’s name or category |
| It called the service center. | An action the device performed |
This is why reading the entire sentence matters. Looking only at called can lead to the wrong conclusion.
How to Choose Between “It’s Called” and “It Called”
Use this quick decision process whenever you’re unsure.
First, identify the meaning.
If you’re introducing a name:
It’s called…
If you’re describing a past action:
It called…
Second, try expanding “it’s.”
Take:
It’s called a hybrid.
Expand it:
It is called a hybrid.
The sentence works. Therefore, it’s is correct.
Now look at:
It called a hybrid.
Expanding it’s isn’t relevant because there is no contraction in the original phrase.
Third, check the verb.
Ask whether called means:
- named
- known as
- labeled
or whether it means:
- phoned
- contacted
- summoned
- made a call
- made a calling sound
The answer usually reveals which construction you need.
It’s Called vs It Called in Questions
Questions can make this distinction especially clear.
When asking for a name, use:
What’s it called?
or:
What is it called?
For example:
“What’s that instrument called?”
“It’s called a theremin.”
The question and answer naturally work together.
You wouldn’t normally say:
“What it called?”
That isn’t standard English as a direct question.
However, what it called can appear inside a larger sentence:
I forgot what it called the file.
Here, it called means that it performed the action of calling something a particular name.
This is a different grammatical structure.
“What’s It Called?” vs “What Is It Called?”
Both are correct.
What’s it called? sounds natural in everyday American English.
What is it called? sounds slightly more formal or careful.
For example:
“What’s it called?”
is perfectly normal in conversation.
In a formal questionnaire or academic context, you might see:
“What is it called?”
The contraction doesn’t make the sentence incorrect. It simply creates a more conversational tone.
It’s Called in Professional and Academic Writing
You can use it’s called in professional communication when the tone is conversational.
For example:
This approach is often called progressive disclosure.
A more conversational version is:
It’s often called progressive disclosure.
Both are grammatical.
In technical documentation, research papers, formal reports, and academic writing, the complete “it is called” construction may appear more often because writers generally favor a formal tone.
Still, there is no universal rule saying contractions are grammatically wrong in professional writing.
The surrounding style matters more.
Professional Examples
The process is called data normalization.
This feature is called automatic synchronization.
The method is commonly called risk-based testing.
In a less formal explanation:
It’s called automatic synchronization.
The underlying grammar remains the same.
It’s Called in Technology
Technology provides countless examples of this construction.
You might hear:
- It’s called dark mode.
- It’s called two-factor authentication.
- It’s called cloud computing.
- It’s called a QR code.
- It’s called machine learning.
- It’s called a password manager.
These sentences identify a feature, technology, process, or concept.
By contrast:
It called my phone.
Here, the technology performed an action.
That difference becomes particularly useful when writing instructions, product descriptions, technical explanations, and support messages.
It’s Called in Academic and Scientific Contexts
Scientific writing frequently uses is called to introduce terminology.
For example:
The process is called photosynthesis.
You can make the sentence conversational:
It’s called photosynthesis.
Other examples include:
It’s called evaporation.
It’s called natural selection.
It’s called gravitational attraction.
It’s called cognitive dissonance.
The structure remains the same even when the subject becomes more technical.
In formal scientific writing, writers often name the subject directly rather than relying heavily on it. That approach gives readers more context.
For example:
This process is called cellular respiration.
is usually more informative than:
It’s called cellular respiration.
The second sentence works best when the reader already knows what it refers to.
Why Context Matters With “It”
The word it is a pronoun, so readers need to know what it represents.
Compare:
It’s called a hurricane.
If the previous sentence discussed a particular weather event, the meaning is clear.
Without context, a reader may wonder:
What is “it”?
Clear writing usually introduces the noun before switching to a pronoun.
For example:
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of at least 74 mph is called a hurricane. It’s called a hurricane because it meets the relevant classification.
The noun gives it something definite to refer to.
This small writing choice can make explanations much easier to follow.
It’s Called vs It Called: Pronunciation
In normal American English, it’s is pronounced roughly like “its” /ɪts/.
So:
It’s called
sounds approximately like:
its called
This can create confusion when you’re learning English because it’s and its sound the same in ordinary speech.
The distinction appears in writing.
For example:
It’s called a blue whale.
versus:
The whale protects its young.
Both it’s and its sound alike, but their grammatical roles differ.
That is why apostrophe errors can slip past you when proofreading by ear. Reading a sentence silently or checking whether it’s = it is can help.
Formal vs Informal Usage
The choice between it’s called and it is called often depends on the setting.
| Situation | Natural choice |
| Casual conversation | It’s called |
| Text message | It’s called |
| Social media | It’s called |
| Friendly email | It’s called |
| General business writing | It’s called / It is called |
| Technical documentation | It is called |
| Academic writing | It is called |
| Formal report | It is called |
These aren’t rigid rules. A formal document can contain contractions when its style allows them.
The key point is that both “it’s called” and “it is called” are grammatically correct when you mean that something has a particular name.
Quick Comparison: It’s Called, It Is Called, It Called, and Its Called
Four forms often get mixed together, so here’s the cleanest comparison.
| Form | Correct? | Meaning |
| It’s called | Yes | It is named or known as |
| It is called | Yes | It is named or known as |
| It called | Yes, in the right context | It made a call or performed the action of calling |
| Its called | No, when intended as “it is called” | Missing apostrophe |
Examples make the difference obvious:
It’s called a smartphone. ✓
It is called a smartphone. ✓
It called me yesterday. ✓
Its called a smartphone. ✗
The last sentence needs an apostrophe:
It’s called a smartphone. ✓
A Simple Memory Trick
When you’re stuck between it’s called and it called, use the “it is” test.
Write the sentence with it is.
If the sentence makes sense, it’s called is probably what you need.
It’s called a blue jay.
becomes:
It is called a blue jay.
That works.
Now consider:
It called me yesterday.
There’s no contraction to expand. Called already acts as the main past-tense verb.
You can also remember the meaning this way:
Name → It’s called
Action → It called
Think of it as a tiny grammar fork in the road. If you’re pointing to a label, choose it’s called. If you’re describing something that happened, check whether it called is the action you mean.
FAQs
1. Is “It’s called” correct?
Yes. “It’s called” is the correct phrase when you are naming or identifying something. For example: “It’s called a dictionary.”
2. Is “Its called” correct?
Usually, no. “Its called” is missing the apostrophe in it’s. When you mean “it is called,” use “it’s called.”
3. Is “It called” grammatically correct?
Yes, but it has a different use. “It called” can describe a past action, where “it” acts as the subject. For example: “The machine called the number.”
4. Why do people confuse “it’s called” and “its called”?
The two forms can sound nearly identical in spoken English. Because the apostrophe cannot be heard, writers sometimes type the wrong form.
5. How can I remember the correct form?
Use “it’s called” when you mean “it is called.” A quick check is to replace it’s with it is. If the sentence still makes sense, it’s is the right form.
Conclusion
Understanding It’s Called vs It Called becomes easier when you focus on meaning rather than sound. “It’s called” is used for naming or identifying something, while “it called” can describe a past action. The common mistake “its called” usually occurs because the apostrophe disappears when people move from speech to writing.
Once you learn this simple difference, you can choose the right form more quickly and confidently. Paying attention to the context, subject, and purpose of the sentence will help you avoid common mistakes in professional writing, formal communication, and everyday English.
