It’s Called vs It Called: Which Is Correct?

When you want to say what something is named, “it’s called” is the correct expression. “It called” is not correct when used alone with this meaning.

The apostrophe in it’s represents it is, so “it’s called” means “it is called.” For example, “This fruit is called a mango” can also be expressed as “It’s called a mango.”

The confusion happens because it’s and it look almost identical in writing, while called can work in different grammatical structures. Understanding the difference is useful for everyday conversations, writing, school assignments, and English tests.

In this guide, you will learn when to use it’s called, why it called is usually incorrect, and how to use both forms correctly when the sentence structure changes.

Quick Answer

“It’s called” is correct when you mean “it is called” or “it has the name.” For example, “It’s called a laptop.” “It called” is incorrect when used to mean something has a particular name.

However, “it called” can be correct in a different sentence, such as “It called me yesterday,” where called is the past-tense verb.

Why Do People Confuse “It’s Called” and “It Called”?

The main reason is the apostrophe in it’s. Many learners accidentally leave it out and write it called when they actually mean it is called.

There is also an important grammatical difference:

• It’s called = It is called
• It called = It made a phone call or contacted someone

So, these two forms do not normally have the same meaning.

What Does “It’s Called” Mean?

“It’s called” is short for “it is called.”

We use it to tell someone the name of a person, object, place, activity, idea, or thing.

Examples

• It’s called a smartphone.
• It’s called the Eiffel Tower.
• It’s called English grammar.
• It’s called a bicycle.
• This dish is delicious. It’s called biryani.

You can usually test the sentence by replacing it’s with it is.

It’s called a rose.
→ It is called a rose. ✓

Because the full form makes sense, it’s is correct.

What Does “It Called” Mean?

“It called” is not normally used to mean “it is called.”

Instead, called can be the simple past form of the verb call.

For example:

• It called me yesterday.
• It called the police.
• It called several times.
• The machine called the number automatically.

Here, it is the subject and called is the main verb.

Important Difference

Compare:

It’s called a taxi.
= It is called a taxi.

It called a taxi.
= It contacted/ordered a taxi.

The meaning changes completely.

It’s Called vs It Called: Comparison Table

Expression	Full Form	Meaning	Example
It’s called	It is called	Gives a name	It’s called a notebook.
It called	It called	Past action of calling	It called me yesterday.
It’s called	It is called	Identifies something	It’s called Google.
It called	It called	Contacted someone/something	It called the office.

When Should You Use “It’s Called”?

Use it’s called when you are identifying or giving the name of something.

Use it for names

• It’s called London.
• It’s called Mount Everest.
• It’s called a keyboard.

Use it for labels or terms

• It’s called a noun.
• It’s called a metaphor.
• It’s called a password.

Use it for titles

• It’s called The Great Gatsby.
• It’s called The Lion King.

Use it when introducing something unfamiliar

If someone asks, “What is this?”

You can answer:

It’s called a telescope.

10+ Examples of “It’s Called” and “It Called”

Correct Uses of “It’s Called”

1. It’s called a smartphone.
2. It’s called a dictionary.
3. It’s called the Pacific Ocean.
4. It’s called a keyboard.
5. It’s called a hamburger.
6. It’s called artificial intelligence.
7. It’s called a rainbow.
8. It’s called a university.
9. It’s called a traditional dish.
10. It’s called a compound word.
11. It’s called a traffic signal.
12. It’s called a solar eclipse.

Correct Uses of “It Called”

13. It called me last night.
14. It called the emergency number.
15. It called the wrong person.
16. It called the office yesterday.

Notice that it called in these examples describes an action, not a name.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Writing “It called” instead of “It’s called”

❌ It called a laptop.
✓ It’s called a laptop.

If you mean “It is called a laptop,” you need it’s.

Mistake 2: Confusing “its” with “it’s”

These are different words.

• It’s = it is / it has
• Its = belonging to it

Example:

• It’s called a computer.
• The computer lost its connection.

Mistake 3: Thinking “it’s” means possession

The apostrophe does not show possession in it’s.

It’s is a contraction.

It’s = It is

Memory Trick

Use this simple trick:

If you can replace “it’s” with “it is,” use “it’s.”

For example:

It’s called a pen.
→ It is called a pen. ✓

But:

It called me.
→ It is called me. ✗

Therefore, the second sentence needs it, not it’s.

American vs British English

There is no major American-versus-British difference in the basic use of “it’s called.”

Both American and British English use:

It’s called a computer.

Both varieties also use “it called” when called is the past-tense verb:

It called me yesterday.

The difference is therefore grammatical and contextual, not primarily a difference between American and British English.

Similar Words

Several expressions are related to “it’s called.”

It is called

This is the full form of it’s called.

• It’s called a rose.
• It is called a rose.

It is known as

This is another way to identify a name or commonly used term.

• It’s called the Red Planet.
• It is known as the Red Planet.

It is named

This can also identify the name of something.

• It’s called Sarah.
• It is named Sarah.

Its name is

This directly states the name.

• It’s called Max.
• Its name is Max.

Final Verdict

If you mean “it is called,” use “it’s called.”

Correct: It’s called a smartphone.
Incorrect for this meaning: It called a smartphone.

However, “it called” can be grammatically correct when called means that something made a call or contacted someone:

It called me yesterday.

The key is to look at the meaning and sentence structure rather than the words alone.

FAQs:

Is “it’s called” correct?

Yes. “It’s called” is correct and means “it is called.” It is commonly used to give the name of something.

Is “it called” grammatically correct?

Yes, but it has a different grammatical use. “It called me” means that something or someone represented by “it” made a call or contacted you. It does not mean “it is called.”

What is the difference between “it’s called” and “it called”?

“It’s called” means “it is called.” “It called” uses called as the past tense of call. For example, “It’s called a phone” identifies an object, while “It called me” describes an action.

Can I say “It called a phone”?

Not if you mean that the object has the name “phone.” In that case, say “It’s called a phone.” “It called a phone” means that something made a call to a phone.

Is “it’s called” formal or informal?

“It’s called” is natural in both everyday and formal English. In very formal writing, you can use the full form “it is called.”

What is the full form of “it’s called”?

The full form is “it is called.”

It’s called a laptop.
= It is called a laptop.

Is “its called” correct?

Usually, no. If you mean “it is called,” you need the apostrophe:

It’s called a book. ✓

The word its without an apostrophe shows possession.

Remember This

• It’s called = It is called
• It called = past action of call
• Its = shows possession
• Use it’s called when giving a name.
• Use it called when describing a past calling action.

Conclusion:

The correct expression for giving the name of something is “it’s called.” It is the contraction of “it is called” and is widely used in everyday English. If you are identifying an object, place, person, term, or title, “it’s called” is the form you normally need.

“It called” is different because called functions as a past-tense verb. It can be correct in sentences such as “It called me yesterday,” but it does not replace “it’s called.” Remembering the simple rule—it’s = it is—will help you choose the correct form.