The phrases it’s called and it called look almost identical, but they have completely different grammatical structures and meanings. The apostrophe in it’s is important because it’s is a contraction of it is or it has.
When you want to say that something has a particular name, the correct phrase is usually it’s called. For example, you can say, “This dish is called biryani” or “It’s called biryani.” On the other hand, it called is a past-tense verb phrase in which it is the subject and called means that the thing made a phone call or summoned someone.
Quick Answer
Use it’s called when you mean “it is called” or “its name is.”
Use it called only when called is the past tense of the verb call.
Examples:
- ✅ It’s called a smartphone.
- ✅ It’s called “The Blue House.”
- ✅ The dog called its owner. (The dog made the call/summoned someone.)
- ❌ It called “The Blue House.” (Incorrect if you mean its name.)
Why People Confuse It
People confuse it’s called and it called because the phrases differ by only one letter: the apostrophe and s.
The key is to recognize that:
- It’s = it is or it has
- It = pronoun
- Called = past participle after is or past tense when used alone
When talking about the name of something, it’s called is normally the phrase you need.
It’s Called
It’s called is a contraction of:
It is called
It is commonly used to introduce or identify the name of something.
Meaning
It’s called can mean:
- Its name is…
- People call it…
- It is known as…
Examples
- It’s called a laptop.
- It’s called “The Last Chapter.”
- It’s called a traditional dish.
- It’s called artificial intelligence.
- It’s called the main entrance.
You can usually replace it’s with it is:
It’s called the Blue Room.
It is called the Blue Room.
Because the expanded version works, it’s is correct.
It Called
It called is different.
Here, it is the subject and called is the past tense of call.
It can mean that something or someone:
- Made a telephone call.
- Called out.
- Summoned someone.
- Requested someone’s attention.
Examples
- The machine called the emergency number.
- The bird called loudly.
- The child called for help.
- The system called the wrong number.
However, it called is less common than it’s called when you’re talking about names.
It’s Called vs It Called Comparison Table
| Feature | It’s Called | It Called |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | It is called | It called |
| Main meaning | Has a name / is known as | Made a call or summoned |
| Talks about a name | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Present/passive construction | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Simple past verb | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Common phrase | ✅ Very common | ⚠️ Context-dependent |
When to Use Each
Use “it’s called” when talking about a name
Use it’s called when identifying what something is named.
Examples:
- It’s called a hybrid car.
- It’s called the Grand Hall.
- It’s called a rain jacket.
- It’s called “The Secret Garden.”
A useful test is to replace it’s with it is:
It’s called the Red House.
It is called the Red House.
If the sentence still makes sense, it’s is correct.
Use “it called” when “called” is the main past-tense verb
Examples:
- The phone called me. (Less natural; “called me” normally refers to a person making the call.)
- The bird called from the tree.
- The child called for his mother.
- The system called the wrong number.
Here, called describes an action that happened in the past.
Examples (10+)
It’s Called
- It’s called a smartphone.
- It’s called the city center.
- It’s called “The Green Room.”
- It’s called a traditional recipe.
- It’s called a wireless connection.
- It’s called a shortcut.
- It’s called the main entrance.
- It’s called artificial intelligence.
- It’s called a common mistake.
- It’s called a reflexive pronoun.
- Do you know what it’s called?
- I don’t know what it’s called.
It Called
- The bird called from the branches.
- The child called for help.
- The dog called out to its owner. (More naturally, “barked” may be used depending on the meaning.)
- The system called the wrong number.
- The machine called the emergency service.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “it called” for a name
❌ It called a smartphone.
✅ It’s called a smartphone.
The correct meaning is “It is called a smartphone.”
Mistake 2: Forgetting the apostrophe
❌ Do you know what its called?
✅ Do you know what it’s called?
Here, it’s means it is.
Mistake 3: Confusing “its” and “it’s”
Remember:
- Its = possessive
- It’s = it is / it has
Example:
- The company changed its name.
- It’s called Bright Solutions.
Mistake 4: Assuming “called” always refers to a phone call
Called can have several meanings.
- It’s called a rose. → It has a name.
- She called me. → She telephoned me.
- He called for help. → He requested help.
Context determines the meaning.
Memory Trick
Use the “it is” test.
If you can replace it’s with it is, use it’s.
It’s called John.
It is called John. ✅
If you mean that something performed the action of calling in the past, use it called.
The bird called loudly. ✅
Remember:
It’s called = It is called
It called = It performed the action of calling
American vs British English
There is no significant difference between American and British English in this distinction.
Both varieties use:
- It’s called = it is called / it is known as
- It called = past tense of the verb call
The contraction it’s is common in both varieties.
Similar Words
If you’re learning commonly confused English expressions, you may also like:
- That’s vs Thats
- Its vs It’s
- Itself vs Its Self
- Shown vs Showed
- Heard vs Herd vs Hurd
- Might as Well vs Mine as Well vs Mind as Well
- When I Can vs When Can I
Final Verdict
Use it’s called when you are talking about the name or description of something. It is short for it is called, as in “It’s called a smartphone.”
Use it called only when called is the past tense verb describing an action, such as “The bird called loudly” or “The system called the wrong number.”
The easiest way to remember the difference is to use the “it is” test. If you can replace it’s with it is, then it’s called is the correct form.
FAQs
Is “it’s called” correct?
Yes. It’s called is correct when you mean “it is called” or “it is known as.”
Is “it called” correct?
Yes, but it has a different meaning. It called uses called as a past-tense verb and means that something or someone made a call, called out, or summoned someone.
Should I say “what it’s called” or “what it called”?
If you’re asking for the name of something, use:
What it’s called
Example:
Do you know what it’s called?
Is “its called” correct?
No, not when you mean “it is called.” The correct form is:
It’s called
The apostrophe indicates the contraction it is.
What does “it’s called” mean?
It’s called means “it is called”, “its name is,” or “it is known as.”
What is the difference between “it’s” and “its”?
It’s is a contraction of it is or it has. Its is a possessive word.
Examples:
- It’s called a laptop.
- The laptop lost its connection.
Can “it called” refer to a phone call?
Yes. For example:
The system called the wrong number.
Here, called is the past tense of call.
Conclusion
The difference between it’s called and it called is simple once you identify the grammatical role of called. It’s called means “it is called” and is the correct expression when you’re giving or asking about the name of something.
It called, on the other hand, uses called as a past tense verb. It describes an action, such as making a call or calling out. When you’re asking for the name of something, remember to use it’s called.
Remember This
✅ It’s called = It is called / It is known as
✅ It called = It performed the action of calling
Quick test: If “it is called” works, use “it’s called.”
