The difference between It’s Called vs It Called becomes clear when you understand how naming differs from a past action in English grammar.
It’s called is the correct phrase when you give the name, title, or identity of an object, place, idea, or movie, while it called normally describes a past action performed by a subject. Although these phrases can sound nearly identical when spoken quickly, their usage and meaning are completely different. The tiny apostrophe in the contraction matters because it’s means “it is” or “it has,” making it’s called the natural form for naming something.
By contrast, it called can appear in storytelling or reporting events when something made a call in the past. In business writing, emails, proposals, scheduling, and everyday communication, choosing the right form improves clarity and makes your writing more precise. learners may initially struggle with this common grammar question, but understanding the rules, pronunciation, and spelling makes the distinction easier to remember and helps you write with confidence.
It’s Called vs It Called: Quick Answer
“It’s called” is the correct choice when you identify or give the name of something.
It’s called a rain gauge.
Here, it’s means it is, while called describes the name assigned to the thing.
“It called” is correct when it performed the action of calling in the past.
The phone rang because it called the number automatically.
In this sentence, called is the past tense of the verb call.
| Phrase | Grammar | Main meaning | Example |
| It’s called | It + is + called | It has a particular name or label | “It’s called a compass.” |
| It called | It + past-tense verb | It made a call or performed an act of calling | “It called me yesterday.” |
| It is called | It + is + called | Same meaning as “it’s called” | “It is called a compass.” |
| Its | Possessive determiner | Belonging to it | “The dog wagged its tail.” |
The easiest rule is simple:
Name or label → “it’s called.”
Past action of calling → “it called.”
What Does “It’s Called” Mean?
“It’s called” usually means “it is called.” English speakers use this construction to tell someone what a person, object, place, idea, process, or thing is known as.
For example:
- It’s called a smartphone.
- It’s called the Golden Gate Bridge.
- It’s called photosynthesis.
- It’s called a deadline.
- It’s called a hybrid vehicle.
The phrase often appears when someone asks for a name.
“What’s that device called?”
“It’s called a multimeter.”
The construction contains three important parts:
It + is + called
When English contracts it is, it becomes it’s:
It is called → It’s called
So these sentences have the same basic meaning:
It is called a compass.
It’s called a compass.
The shorter version sounds more natural in ordinary conversation.
“It’s Called” for Names and Terms
You can use it’s called for more than physical names. The phrase also introduces technical terms, informal expressions, categories, and concepts.
Consider these examples:
- It’s called a peninsula.
- It’s called a metaphor.
- It’s called compound interest.
- It’s called a software update.
- It’s called a food allergy.
In each case, called connects the thing being discussed with its recognized name or term.
That makes “it’s called” especially useful when explaining unfamiliar vocabulary.
“It’s Called” for Places
The phrase also works naturally with geographical names.
That area is called Silicon Valley.
You can make the sentence more conversational:
It’s called Silicon Valley.
The same structure works for streets, buildings, neighborhoods, restaurants, parks, and other locations.
“It’s Called” for Titles and Labels
You can also use it’s called when referring to titles or labels.
For example:
The movie is called Jaws.
In casual speech, you might say:
It’s called Jaws.
The phrase identifies the title rather than describing an action performed in the past.
What Does “It Called” Mean?
“It called” has a different grammatical structure. Here, called is the simple past tense of call.
The subject it performs the action.
For example:
It called me last night.
This means that something referred to as it contacted the speaker.
Other examples include:
- The phone called the wrong number.
- The automated system called my office.
- The bird called from the forest.
- The machine called the stored number.
The exact meaning depends on the subject and context.
“It Called” for Contacting Someone
The most familiar meaning involves communication.
The company called me yesterday.
If it refers to the company, you could say:
It called me yesterday.
The past-tense verb called tells you that the action happened in the past.
Compare that with:
It’s called a company.
That sentence doesn’t say anything about contacting someone. It identifies a term or category.
“It Called” for Sounds
Call doesn’t always mean making a telephone call.
Animals can call to communicate with one another.
For example:
The bird called from the branches.
Here, called refers to the sound or vocal behavior of the bird.
You might also encounter the construction in descriptions of animal behavior:
It called repeatedly throughout the night.
Again, it performs an action. It isn’t receiving a name.
It’s Called vs It Called: Grammar Difference
The biggest difference comes from the role of called.
In “it’s called,” the phrase normally uses a passive construction:
It is called a microscope.
The thing being identified appears as the subject. The sentence means that people call that thing a microscope.
In “it called,” the verb appears in the simple past tense:
It called me yesterday.
The subject performs the action.
This gives you two completely different patterns:
| Construction | Structure | Function |
| It’s called | It + is + called | Identifies a name or term |
| It called | It + called | Describes a past action |
| It was called | It + was + called | Identifies what something was named in the past |
| It has been called | It + has been + called | Identifies a name or description used up to now |
Think of the difference as identity versus action.
It’s called answers a question such as:
“What is its name?”
It called answers a question such as:
“What did it do?”
That distinction solves most confusion between the two expressions.
“It’s Called” Means “It Is Called”
A useful grammar test involves expanding the contraction.
When you see it’s called, replace it’s with it is.
It’s called a keyboard.
becomes:
It is called a keyboard.
The expanded sentence works perfectly, which confirms that it’s means it is here.
Try another:
It’s called a lunar eclipse.
Expansion:
It is called a lunar eclipse.
Again, the meaning remains clear.
This substitution test can help when you’re proofreading quickly.
When the Expansion Does Not Work
Consider:
It’s been raining all day.
Here, it’s means it has, not it is.
The expansion is:
It has been raining all day.
That’s why context matters. It’s can represent it is or it has.
With “it’s called,” however, the most common interpretation is “it is called.”
Can “It’s Called” Mean “It Has Called”?
Yes, in some grammatical contexts it’s can mean “it has.”
For example:
It’s called three times today.
This sentence could theoretically mean:
It has called three times today.
However, this construction can sound awkward or confusing without additional context. A clearer sentence would usually be:
It has called three times today.
This removes the ambiguity.
By contrast:
It’s called a telescope.
almost always means:
It is called a telescope.
The surrounding words help readers determine which expansion makes sense.
Why Context Matters
English contractions often carry more than one possible expansion.
For it’s, the possibilities include:
- it is
- it has
The phrase following the contraction often provides the clue.
| Sentence | Expansion | Meaning |
| It’s called a camera. | It is called a camera. | Its name or term is camera. |
| It’s been repaired. | It has been repaired. | Someone repaired it. |
| It’s working. | It is working. | It currently works. |
| It’s changed recently. | It has changed recently. | A change happened recently. |
When clarity matters, especially in formal writing, spelling out it is or it has can remove uncertainty.
When to Use “It’s Called”
Use “it’s called” when you want to identify what something is known as.
This includes several common situations.
Naming an Object
It’s called a thermometer.
Introducing a Technical Term
It’s called cognitive bias.
Identifying a Place
It’s called Central Park.
Explaining a Process
It’s called fermentation.
Identifying a Category
It’s called a compound sentence.
Giving a Title
It’s called The Great Gatsby.
The common thread is identification. You’re telling the reader or listener what something is called.
When to Use “It Called”
Use “it called” when it performed the action of calling at a previous time.
For example:
It called me twice.
The action occurred in the past.
Other examples include:
- It called before sunrise.
- It called the wrong number.
- It called again after lunch.
- It called from an unknown number.
- It called everyone to the meeting.
However, the subject must make sense with the verb.
For example, “The automated system called me” sounds natural because a system can place an automated call.
By contrast, “The table called me” would usually sound illogical unless the sentence appears in a fictional or unusual context.
It’s Called vs It Called Examples
Side-by-side examples make the difference much easier to see.
| It’s Called | It Called |
| It’s called a blueprint. | It called me yesterday. |
| It’s called a habitat. | It called the emergency number. |
| It’s called Mount Rainier. | It called again this morning. |
| It’s called a hypothesis. | The bird called from the tree. |
| It’s called a shortcut. | The system called every customer. |
Notice what changes.
In the left column, called helps identify something.
In the right column, called describes something that happened.
A Useful Comparison
Consider these two sentences:
It’s called a smart speaker.
versus:
It called the customer.
The first sentence answers “What is it called?”
The second answers “What did it do?”
That’s the central distinction.
Common Mistakes With “It’s Called” and “It Called”
Mistake: Using “It Called” for a Name
A common error looks like this:
It called a telescope.
If the intended meaning is that the object has the name telescope, this sentence is incorrect.
Use:
It’s called a telescope.
The missing element is is.
The full structure is:
It is called a telescope.
Mistake: Confusing “It’s” and “Its”
This mistake causes trouble far beyond this particular phrase.
It’s means:
- it is
- it has
Its shows possession.
Compare:
It’s called a fox.
with:
The fox lifted its head.
The first sentence uses it’s because you can expand it to it is.
The second uses its because the head belongs to the fox.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
| it’s | it is / it has | It’s called a sedan. |
| its | belonging to it | The car lost its wheel cover. |
A quick test works well:
Can you replace “it’s” with “it is” or “it has”?
If yes, it’s may be correct.
Mistake: Assuming “Called” Always Means “Named”
The verb call has several meanings.
It can mean:
- Give something a name
- Contact someone
- Shout or speak loudly
- Produce an animal sound
- Invite or summon someone
- Request something
- Announce something
Therefore, called doesn’t automatically mean named.
Context determines the meaning.
Mistake: Ignoring the Tense
Compare:
It’s called a router.
and:
It called the router.
The first sentence identifies something.
The second says it contacted or summoned the router, depending on context.
The auxiliary verb is in the first construction changes the grammatical relationship.
Is “It’s Called” Grammatically Correct?
Yes. “It’s called” is grammatically correct when it’s means “it is.”
Its full form is:
It is called…
The construction commonly uses the passive voice because the thing receiving the name appears as the subject.
For example:
People call this device a router.
can become:
This device is called a router.
And in conversational English:
It’s called a router.
The passive structure isn’t a grammar error. In fact, it’s a natural way to focus attention on the thing being named rather than the people giving it that name.
Is “It Called” Grammatically Correct?
Yes. “It called” is also grammatically correct when called functions as the simple past tense of call.
For example:
The machine called me.
The subject is the machine. The verb called describes an action completed in the past.
Replacing the subject with it gives:
It called me.
The sentence remains grammatical because it represents the machine.
However, it called isn’t a substitute for it’s called when you’re giving a name.
Read More: Reevaluation vs Re-evaluation: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Compare the Structures
Name:
It’s called a sedan.
Past action:
It called the driver.
Both are grammatical. They simply communicate different ideas.
It’s Called vs It Called in Questions
Questions make the distinction particularly clear.
When you want to ask for the name of something, use:
What’s it called?
This is a very common and natural question.
The expanded form is:
What is it called?
The answer could be:
It’s called a thermostat.
Now compare:
Did it call you?
This question asks whether something contacted you.
The two questions look similar, but they have different purposes.
| Question | What it asks |
| What’s it called? | What is its name? |
| What did it call? | What did it name, contact, or summon? |
| Did it call you? | Did it contact you? |
| What is it called? | What name does it have? |
Why “What’s It Called?” Works
The structure is:
What + is + it + called?
The contraction produces:
What’s + it + called?
So:
What is it called?
becomes:
What’s it called?
This pattern is standard and natural in everyday American English.
It’s Called or It Called in Different Tenses
The difference becomes even clearer when you compare related constructions.
| Construction | Meaning | Example |
| It is called | Current name | “It is called a satellite.” |
| It’s called | Current name, contracted | “It’s called a satellite.” |
| It was called | Past name | “It was called something else before.” |
| It has been called | Name or description used up to now | “It has been called a breakthrough.” |
| It called | Past action | “It called me yesterday.” |
| It will be called | Future name | “It will be called Project Alpha.” |
This table reveals an important point: “it called” and “it was called” aren’t interchangeable.
Compare:
It called the manager.
The subject performed an action.
It was called the manager.
The sentence says someone referred to it as the manager.
The auxiliary verb was creates the passive naming structure.
It’s Called vs It Is Called
“It’s called” and “it is called” usually mean exactly the same thing.
The difference mainly involves style, rhythm, and emphasis.
Conversational English
It’s called a hatchback.
This sounds natural in everyday speech.
More Formal or Emphatic Writing
It is called a hatchback.
Spelling out the contraction can sound slightly more deliberate.
For most ordinary writing, both forms are grammatically acceptable.
However, if you need to emphasize is, the uncontracted version can help:
It is called a hatchback, not a sedan.
The contraction isn’t wrong. The expanded form simply gives the sentence a little more emphasis.
It’s Called vs It’s Named
“It’s called” and “it’s named” can overlap, but they aren’t identical in every situation.
Called has a broader range of uses.
For example:
It’s called a smartphone.
You’re identifying a category or common term.
You could also say:
It’s named after its inventor.
Here, named focuses more specifically on the act or origin of assigning a name.
Consider these examples:
- The city is called Austin.
- The city was named after Stephen F. Austin.
- This process is called evaporation.
- The company was named after its founder.
The words can work similarly in some contexts, but called often works naturally when introducing terminology.
It’s Called vs Its Called
“Its called” is incorrect when you mean “it is called.”
For example:
Its called a bicycle.
Correct:
It’s called a bicycle.
The apostrophe represents the missing letters in the contraction it is.
Think of it this way:
it is → it’s
The apostrophe marks the contraction.
Meanwhile:
its → possession
For example:
The bicycle lost its chain.
The chain belongs to the bicycle, so its doesn’t need an apostrophe.
A Simple Memory Trick
If you can say “it is,” write “it’s.”
It is called a bicycle.
It’s called a bicycle.
If you’re showing possession, use “its.”
The bicycle has its own lock.
This rule covers most everyday cases.
It’s Called vs It Called in Formal and Informal English
Both expressions can appear in standard English. The important issue isn’t simply formality.
The real question is:
What do you mean?
If you’re identifying a name, use:
It’s called…
If you’re describing a past calling action, use:
It called…
Contractions such as it’s are common in conversational and general-purpose writing. More formal documents may spell them out, depending on the style guide and context.
However, replacing it’s called with it called doesn’t make writing more formal. It changes the grammar and usually changes the meaning.
How to Remember the Difference Between It’s Called and It Called
A simple name versus action rule makes this distinction stick.
Think “Name”
If you’re answering:
What is it called?
Use:
It’s called…
Example:
It’s called a semicolon.
Think “Action”
If you’re describing what something did:
It called…
Example:
It called me after dinner.
The shortcut is:
It’s called = name
It called = past action
Use the Expansion Test
When you see it’s, expand it.
It’s called a telescope.
becomes:
It is called a telescope.
If that makes sense, you’ve found the correct construction.
Practice: Choose “It’s Called” or “It Called”
Try these sentences before checking the answers.
- ______ a solar eclipse.
- ______ me after lunch.
- Do you know what ______?
- The automated system ______ my number.
- ______ a compound sentence.
- The bird ______ from the tree.
- ______ the northern entrance.
- ______ twice during the night.
Answers
- It’s called a solar eclipse.
- It called me after lunch.
- Do you know what it’s called?
- The automated system called my number.
- It’s called a compound sentence.
- The bird called from the tree.
- It’s called the northern entrance.
- It called twice during the night.
The first, third, fifth, and seventh examples involve names or identification.
The other examples describe a past action.
Real-World Usage Examples
Grammar becomes easier when you see how these expressions appear naturally.
Everyday Conversation
“What’s that tool called?”
“It’s called a torque wrench.”
Here, the speaker asks for a name and the answer supplies it.
Technology
“What’s this feature called?”
“It’s called two-factor authentication.”
The phrase introduces a technical term.
Now consider:
“Why did your phone ring?”
“It called the emergency contact automatically.”
Here, called describes an action.
School or Academic Writing
This process is called osmosis.
The sentence identifies a scientific term.
You could make it conversational:
It’s called osmosis.
Workplace Communication
The software is called a customer relationship management system.
Or, in a discussion:
It’s called a CRM system.
But:
The system called the customer automatically.
The same word called appears in both examples, but the grammar does different work.
A Closer Look at “Called” in English
The word called can function in several ways because call has several meanings.
Called as Part of a Passive Construction
It is called a glacier.
Here, called helps identify the subject.
Called as a Simple Past Verb
She called yesterday.
Here, called describes a completed action.
Called as a Past Participle
She has called twice.
Here, called works with the auxiliary has to form the present perfect.
Called in a Naming Construction
They called the dog Max.
Here, called means they gave the dog the name Max.
Understanding these patterns helps explain why simply looking at the word called isn’t enough. The words around it determine its grammatical role.
Why “It’s Called” Is So Common When Naming Things
English often uses passive constructions when the identity of the thing matters more than the person who gave it a name.
Compare:
People call this tool a wrench.
with:
This tool is called a wrench.
The second sentence puts the tool first.
In conversation, that becomes:
It’s called a wrench.
This structure is efficient because the speaker doesn’t need to identify who uses the name.
You don’t normally need to say:
“English speakers call this object a wrench.”
You can simply say:
“It’s called a wrench.”
That’s one reason the expression appears so frequently in explanations and everyday conversations.
It’s Called vs It Called: Common Sentence Patterns
Learning the patterns can make the distinction almost automatic.
Common “It’s Called” Patterns
It’s called + noun
It’s called a dictionary.
It’s called + proper name
It’s called Yellowstone National Park.
It’s called + technical term
It’s called kinetic energy.
What’s it called?
What’s it called?
Common “It Called” Patterns
It called + person
It called me.
It called + organization
It called the office.
It called + number
It called the wrong number.
It called + adverbial phrase
It called earlier.
The surrounding structure often tells you immediately which meaning applies.
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 smartphone.”
2. Is “it called” grammatically correct?
Yes, but it called has a different meaning. It usually describes a past action, such as “The bird called at dawn.”
3. What is the difference between “it’s called” and “it called”?
It’s called means something has a name or is known as something. It called describes something that made a call in the past.
4. Why does the apostrophe matter in “it’s called”?
The apostrophe shows that it’s is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” Without it, its has a different grammatical function.
5. Can “its called” replace “it’s called”?
No. When you mean “it is called,” you need the apostrophe: it’s called. Writing its called is normally a grammar mistake.
Conclusion
Understanding it’s called vs it called is easier when you focus on their different meanings and uses. Use it’s called when you are giving the name, title, or identity of something. Use it called when the sentence describes a past action, especially when something made a call. The small apostrophe in it’s can change the grammatical meaning, so paying attention to this detail improves clarity, accuracy, and confidence in English writing.
With regular practice, this distinction becomes natural. Whether you are writing emails, business communication, school assignments, or everyday sentences, choosing the correct form helps your message stay clear. Remember the simple rule: it’s called is used for naming, while it called refers to a past action.
