When people want to say the name of something, they often use phrases such as “it’s called” and “it called.” Because the two phrases look almost identical, it is easy to type or say the wrong one. However, they have completely different grammatical functions. In most situations where you are giving something its name, “it’s called” is the correct expression.
The confusion usually comes from the contraction “it’s,” which means “it is” or, in some contexts, “it has.” By contrast, “it called” contains the pronoun “it” followed directly by the past-tense verb “called.” This can be grammatically correct, but only when “called” means that something or someone made a phone call. Understanding this small difference can help you avoid common grammar mistakes in everyday English, writing, and conversation.
Quick Answer
“It’s called” is correct when you mean “it is called” and are giving the name of something. “It called” is correct only when “it” is the subject that made a phone call. For example: “It’s called a smartphone” vs. “It called me yesterday.”
Why People Confuse It
The confusion comes from the similar appearance and pronunciation of the two expressions.
It’s is a contraction. It can mean:
- It is
- It has
For example:
- It’s beautiful. → It is beautiful.
- It’s been repaired. → It has been repaired.
- It’s called a tablet. → It is called a tablet.
On the other hand, it called contains two separate words:
- it = pronoun
- called = past tense of call
Therefore, “it called” usually describes an action performed by “it.”
Compare:
It’s called a dolphin.
= It is called a dolphin.
It called me yesterday.
= The thing or animal made a call to me yesterday.
The meaning changes completely.
First Word: It’s
It’s is the contraction of “it is” or “it has.”
When talking about the name of something, it’s almost always means “it is.”
Examples
- It’s called a dictionary.
- It’s called the Grand Canyon.
- It’s called a keyboard.
- It’s called a sandwich.
- It’s called English grammar.
You can test the sentence by replacing “it’s” with “it is.”
It’s called a laptop.
It is called a laptop. ✓
Because the expanded version makes sense, “it’s called” is correct.
What Does “Called” Mean Here?
In “it’s called,” the word called means “given the name” or “known by the name.”
For example:
This fruit is called a mango.
This means that the fruit has the name mango.
Second Word: It Called
It called is a completely different grammatical construction.
Here, it is the subject, while called is the past tense of the verb call.
For example:
The machine called me yesterday.
Here, the machine performed the action of calling.
The expression can also appear when it refers to an animal, device, automated system, or another thing capable of making a call.
Examples
- It called me twice.
- It called the office yesterday.
- It called the wrong number.
- It called while I was sleeping.
- It called again this morning.
Notice that “it called” does not mean “it is called.”
If you want to introduce the name of something, you need the verb is:
It is called a telescope. ✓
It called a telescope. ✗
Comparison Table
| Expression | Meaning | Grammar | Example |
| It’s called | It is named | Contraction + passive structure | It’s called a laptop. |
| It called | It made a call | 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 made a call | Present perfect | It has called three times. |
When to Use Each
Use “It’s Called” for Names
Use “it’s called” when you are explaining what something is named.
Examples:
- It’s called a passport.
- It’s called artificial intelligence.
- It’s called a keyboard shortcut.
- It’s called a traditional recipe.
This is especially common when asking about vocabulary:
What’s this called?
A natural answer is:
It’s called a stapler.
Use “It Called” for a Past Calling Action
Use “it called” when it performed the action of calling.
Examples:
- The phone called? No, more naturally: It called me.
- The automated system called me.
- The company’s machine called the number automatically.
- My old phone called the emergency number accidentally.
In ordinary conversation, however, people often use a specific subject instead of it to make the meaning clearer.
Examples: It’s Called vs It Called
Examples of “It’s Called”
- It’s called a smartphone.
- It’s called a notebook.
- It’s called a dictionary.
- It’s called a hurricane.
- It’s called a keyboard.
- It’s called a sandwich.
- It’s called a shortcut.
- It’s called a passport.
- It’s called a sunflower.
- It’s called the English Channel.
- It’s called a compound word.
- It’s called a metaphor.
Examples of “It Called”
- It called me yesterday.
- It called again this morning.
- It called the wrong number.
- It called while I was driving.
- It called three times during the night.
- It called my office automatically.
- It called the emergency service by mistake.
- It called after everyone had left.
- It called me at midnight.
- It called without warning.
The key difference is simple: “it’s called” describes a name, while “it called” describes an action.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Writing “It called” When Giving a Name
Incorrect:
It called a smartphone.
Correct:
It’s called a smartphone.
Or:
It is called a smartphone.
Mistake 2: Confusing “It’s” With “Its”
It’s means it is or it has.
Its is a possessive determiner.
Compare:
It’s called a tiger.
The tiger hurt its leg.
The first sentence means “It is called a tiger.” The second shows possession.
Mistake 3: Assuming “Called” Always Means Phoned
The word called has several meanings.
It can mean:
- gave something a name
- telephoned someone
- asked someone to come
- described something in a particular way
For example:
It’s called a rose.
Here, called means named.
But:
It called me.
Here, called means telephoned.
Mistake 4: Using “It Called” Without a Clear Meaning
If your sentence is supposed to answer the question “What is this called?”, then “It’s called…” is normally what you need.
Memory Trick
Use this simple trick:
“It’s” = “It is.”
So:
It’s called…
becomes:
It is called…
If the expanded sentence makes sense, use “it’s.”
For example:
It’s called a bicycle.
→ It is called a bicycle. ✓
But:
It called me.
→ It is called me. ✗
That tells you that “it called” is being used as a past-tense verb phrase.
Easy Formula
Giving a name → It’s called
Making a phone call → It called
Remember:
Name = It’s called
Phone action = It called
American vs British English
There is no major American-versus-British English difference in the basic distinction between “it’s called” and “it called.”
Both American and British English use:
It’s called a bus.
when referring to the name of something.
Both also use:
It called me yesterday.
when it is the subject that performed the calling action.
Differences between American and British English may occur in vocabulary, pronunciation, or preferred terms for particular objects, but the grammatical distinction between these two phrases remains essentially the same.
Similar Words and Expressions
Several expressions can be confused with “it’s called.”
It’s called
Means something has a particular name.
It’s called a keyboard.
It is called
The full, non-contracted form of “it’s called.”
It is called a keyboard.
It was called
Used for a name in the past.
It was called something different before.
It has been called
Used to say that people have referred to something by a particular name.
It has been called a masterpiece.
It called
Means that “it” performed the action of calling.
It called me yesterday.
Its
Shows possession.
The dog wagged its tail.
Understanding these forms makes it much easier to choose the correct expression.
Final Verdict
When you are telling someone the name of something, use “it’s called.” It is short for “it is called” and is the natural expression used in everyday English.
Use “it called” only when it is the subject performing the action of calling. The two phrases may look similar, but they perform different grammatical jobs.
A quick substitution test can help: if you can replace “it’s” with “it is,” then “it’s called” is likely the correct choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “it’s called” grammatically correct?
Yes. “It’s called” is grammatically correct and means “it is called.” It is commonly used to tell someone the name of a person, place, object, concept, or thing.
Is “it called” grammatically correct?
Yes, but it has a different meaning. “It called” uses called as the past tense of call, meaning that “it” performed a calling action.
Should I say “it’s called” or “it called”?
Use “it’s called” when giving the name of something. Use “it called” when saying that something made a call.
What is the difference between “it’s called” and “it is called”?
There is no difference in basic meaning. “It’s called” is simply the contracted form of “it is called.”
Is “it called” the same as “it’s called”?
No. “It’s called” means “it is named,” while “it called” generally means “it made a call.”
Can “called” mean “named”?
Yes. In “It’s called a rose,” the word called means named or known by the name.
How can I remember the difference?
Remember: “It’s” = “it is.” If you are naming something, say “it’s called.” If something made a phone call in the past, “it called” can be correct.
Conclusion
The difference between “it’s called” and “it called” is small in spelling but significant in meaning. “It’s called” is the expression you need when identifying or naming something, because it means “it is called.” “It called,” meanwhile, describes a past action in which “it” made a call.
The easiest way to avoid confusion is to expand “it’s” into “it is.” If the sentence still makes sense, you have probably chosen the right form. With this simple test, you can confidently use “it’s called” in questions about names, vocabulary, objects, places, and expressions.
Remember This
It’s called = It is called = something has a name.
It called = something made a call in the past.
Name → “It’s called.”
Calling action → “It called.”
I’m Aria White, a passionate word enthusiast who enjoys exploring grammar, vocabulary, and meaningful word connections. I create simple, helpful content that makes matching words easier, clearer, and enjoyable.
