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

English has many small details that cause big confusion. One of the most common mix-ups among both native speakers and ESL learners is the difference between “it’s called” and “it called.” These two phrases look almost the same on paper and sound nearly identical when spoken quickly, yet they carry completely different meanings. Using the wrong one can make a sentence unclear or grammatically incorrect.

This guide breaks down the grammar behind each phrase in plain language. You will find real examples, comparison tables, common mistakes, and a short quiz at the end. Whether you are writing an essay, sending a work email, or just trying to speak more clearly, understanding this distinction will sharpen your English communication right away.

Quick Overview of “It’s Called vs It Called”

Before going into detail, here is a fast summary to orient you. “It’s called” is a contraction of “it is called” a passive voice structure used to name or identify something. “It called” is a simple past tense phrase where “it” is the subject performing the action of calling. One labels things; the other describes events. The two are not interchangeable, and mixing them up changes the meaning of a sentence completely.

Feature	It’s Called	It Called
Full Form	It is called / It has called	It called (no contraction)
Purpose	Names or identifies something	Describes a past action
Voice	Passive voice	Active voice
Tense	Present (passive)	Simple past
Example	It’s called photosynthesis.	It called three times.
Common Use	Very frequent	Rare and specific

What’s the Actual Difference Between “It’s Called” and “It Called”?

The core difference comes down to meaning, tense, and grammatical function.

“It’s called” is a contraction of “it is called” or “it has called.” In most everyday usage, it functions as a passive construction. You use it to name, label, or identify something. The subject is not performing an action; instead, the subject is being described by a name.

“It called” is a simple past tense sentence. Here, “it” is the subject that actively performed the action of calling. There is no contraction, no passive voice, and no naming involved.

Think of it this way:

• “It’s called” = a naming tool
• “It called” = an action in the past

The confusion mostly happens because the contraction “it’s” sounds identical to “its” when spoken. Once you understand that “it’s” always means “it is” or “it has,” the distinction becomes much easier to apply.

Understanding “It’s Called” – Meaning and Usage

Meaning and Function of “It’s Called”

“It’s called” follows the passive voice structure: subject + is/are + past participle. In this case:

• Subject: It
• Helping verb: is (contracted to ‘s)
• Past participle: called

This structure does not describe an action. It describes a name or label. You are telling the listener what something is referred to as. The phrase answers the question: “What is this thing’s name?”

Full form: It is called → Contracted form: It’s called

You can always test whether you are using it correctly by expanding the contraction. If “it is called” fits naturally in the sentence, then “it’s called” is correct.

Practical Examples of “It’s Called”

• It’s called a hammock. (naming an object)
• The process? It’s called fermentation. (defining a concept)
• It’s called machine learning in the tech world. (introducing a term)
• It’s called arachnophobia the fear of spiders. (labeling a condition)
• It’s called Stranger Things you should watch it. (identifying a title)

In every example above, the phrase tells the reader or listener what something is named. No physical action is happening. The sentence is purely descriptive.

Where You’ll See “It’s Called” Most

“It’s called” appears constantly in:

• Definitions and explanations – when introducing a new word or concept
• Casual conversation – when someone asks “what is that thing?”
• Teaching and tutoring – when explaining terminology to students
• Product descriptions – when identifying a feature or item by name
• Scientific and technical writing – when labeling a process or phenomenon

According to data from the Corpus of Contemporary American English, “it’s called” appears roughly seven times more often in speech than “it called.” This makes sense because people name and describe things far more often than they talk about the act of calling.

Real-World Applications of “It’s Called”

In Education

Teachers use “it’s called” constantly. When introducing vocabulary, a teacher might say: “When water turns into vapor, it’s called evaporation.” Or: “This type of poem has a strict syllable count it’s called a haiku.”

This phrasing helps students link a concept to its formal name, which is a core part of academic learning and literacy development.

In Technology

In the tech world, new terms appear every day. Developers and writers rely on “it’s called” to introduce jargon clearly:

• “When a function refers to itself, it’s called recursion.”
• “That development approach? It’s called agile methodology.”
• “The system that stores data online it’s called cloud computing.”

This phrasing makes technical content more accessible to non-expert readers by pairing the concept with its name in a natural way.

In Pop Culture

People use “it’s called” constantly when referencing shows, movies, songs, and trends:

• “That Netflix show about the upside-down world it’s called Stranger Things.”
• “The filter that makes everything look vintage it’s called Lo-Fi.”
• “It’s called a plot twist the author hid the clue in chapter one.”

This is the most casual and conversational use of the phrase, and it appears in everyday speech, social media captions, and entertainment reviews.

When “It Called” Is Correct

Meaning and Function of “It Called”

“It called” is a simple past tense construction. Here, “called” is the main verb, not a past participle. The subject “it” is actively performing the action of calling. There is no contraction and no passive voice.

Structure: Subject (it) + past tense verb (called)

This phrase answers the question: “What did it do?” not “What is it named?”

Correct Examples of “It Called”

• The phone rang, then it called again two minutes later.
• The system failed and it called the backup server automatically.
• The alarm went off because it called for an emergency reset.
• The bird perched on the branch and it called into the forest.

In each of these, “it” is the subject doing the action. Something physically or digitally called it made a call, sent a signal, or produced a sound.

Valid but Rare Situations for “It Called”

“It called” is grammatically correct, but it fits a narrow set of situations. You will use it when:

1. An animal made a sound or cry
2. A device or system triggered a call or signal
3. A phone made an outgoing call
4. Something metaphorically “called out” in a narrative context

Outside these situations, “it called” is not the right choice. If you are trying to name something, always use “it’s called.”

Example in Narrative Writing

In fiction and storytelling, “it called” can appear when an entity performs the act of calling:

“The wolf moved through the shadows of the pine trees. Then, without warning, it called a long, mournful sound that echoed across the valley.”

Here, the wolf (referred to as “it”) performed the action. This is past tense, active voice, and completely correct in context.

Common Mistakes and Misunderstandings

Grammar Confusions

The biggest source of confusion is the contraction “it’s.” Many writers are unsure when to use “it’s” versus “its,” and this uncertainty spills over into phrases like “it’s called.”

Here is how they differ:

Word	Meaning	Example
it’s	it is / it has	It’s called a drone.
its	possessive (belonging to it)	The drone lost its signal.

Its never takes an apostrophe. If you write “Its called a drone,” you have made a grammar error. The possessive “its” cannot introduce a name. Only the contraction “it’s” (meaning “it is”) works here.

Key Errors to Avoid

Incorrect	Correct	Reason
Its called a smartphone.	It’s called a smartphone.	Missing apostrophe changes meaning
It called photosynthesis.	It’s called photosynthesis.	“Called” needs “is” to name something
It’s called me yesterday.	It called me yesterday.	Can’t use passive naming for past actions
It’s called three times.	It called three times.	Repetition of action needs simple past

Pro Tip to Remember

Expand the contraction. Before you write “it’s called,” try replacing it with “it is called.” If the sentence still makes complete sense, you are using it correctly. If it sounds off, you may need “it called” or a different construction entirely.

“It is called a hammock.” ✅ Makes sense → use “it’s called” “It is called three times.” ❌ Sounds wrong → use “it called”

Examples in Real-Life Contexts

Here is how both phrases appear across everyday situations:

Context	Correct Sentence	Phrase Used
Science class	It’s called osmosis when water moves through a membrane.	It’s called
Tech support	The error? It’s called a null pointer exception.	It’s called
Animal behavior	The whale surfaced and it called loudly across the water.	It called
Cooking	This sauce from Genoa it’s called pesto.	It’s called
Software	The function ran once, then it called itself recursively.	It called
Geography	That mountain range? It’s called the Himalayas.	It’s called
Film	The director’s technique it’s called jump cut editing.	It’s called
Alarm system	The device detected smoke and it called emergency services.	It called

How to Decide Which One to Use

Decision Checklist

Ask yourself these questions before choosing:

1. Am I naming or labeling something? → Use “it’s called”
2. Am I describing a past action? → Use “it called”
3. Can I replace “it’s” with “it is” and the sentence still works? → Use “it’s called”
4. Is “it” the subject doing the action? → Use “it called”
5. Does the sentence introduce a term, title, or name? → Use “it’s called”

If you answer yes to questions 1, 3, or 5 → go with “it’s called.” If you answer yes to questions 2 or 4 → go with “it called.”

Mnemonic Device

Here is a simple memory trick:

“If it names, it’s called. If it acts, it called.”

You can also remember it this way:

• Apostrophe = ‘is’ → “it’s called” = “it IS called” → naming something
• No apostrophe = action → “it called” = past tense verb → doing something

Grammar Tips for ESL and Native Speakers

Understanding Verb Tenses

For ESL learners especially, verb tense is one of the trickiest parts of English. Here is a simple breakdown relevant to this topic:

Tense	Structure	Example
Present passive	it is + past participle	It is called a tablet.
Contracted present passive	it’s + past participle	It’s called a tablet.
Simple past active	it + past tense verb	It called the number twice.
Past passive	it was + past participle	It was called a tablet back then.

The key takeaway: when “called” follows “is” (or “it’s”), it functions as a past participle in a passive sentence. When “called” stands on its own after “it,” it is a past tense active verb.

Active vs Passive Voice Notes

• Passive voice (“it’s called”): The subject receives the name. Something outside gives it the label. Example: “It’s called photosynthesis” the word photosynthesis is assigned to the process by general usage.
• Active voice (“it called”): The subject performs the action. Example: “It called for backup” the subject did something.

In formal and academic writing, “it is called” (the expanded form) is preferred over the contraction. In conversational and informal writing, “it’s called” is natural and widely accepted.

Additional Grammar Notes

Why the Apostrophe Matters So Much

The apostrophe in “it’s” is not just a style choice it is a grammatical signal. It tells the reader that a letter has been removed. In “it’s,” the letter i from “is” has been dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. This changes the phrase from a noun-like possessive (“its”) to a verb phrase (“it is”).

This single character shift determines whether your sentence is naming something or showing ownership. Confusing “it’s” and “its” is one of the most common punctuation errors in written English, and it directly affects how “it’s called” is interpreted by readers.

Here is a simple rule: if you can say “it is” in the sentence and it still makes sense, write “it’s” with an apostrophe. If you cannot substitute “it is,” you need the possessive “its” without the apostrophe.

Examples:

• “It’s raining.” → “It is raining.” ✅ → apostrophe is correct
• “The company updated its policy.” → “The company updated it is policy.” ❌ → no apostrophe needed

The Role of Passive Voice in “It’s Called”

“It’s called” is a passive voice construction. In passive voice, the subject is not performing an action it is receiving a description or label. This is why “it’s called” works so well for naming things. The subject (whatever “it” refers to) does not do anything. It simply has a name assigned to it by common use, scientific convention, or cultural practice.

Passive voice is often discouraged in general writing, but for naming and defining, it is the most natural and clear choice in English. You would not say “People call it photosynthesis” every time the passive “it’s called photosynthesis” is cleaner and more direct in many contexts.

Register and Formality

In formal writing academic papers, legal documents, or professional reports it is better to write the full form: “it is called.” The contraction “it’s” is standard in informal writing, spoken language, blog posts, and everyday conversation. Both are grammatically correct. The choice depends on your audience and writing context.

• Formal: “This process is called sublimation.”
• Informal/Conversational: “It’s called sublimation.”
• Narrative/Past reference: “Back then, it was called something else entirely.”

Quiz: Test Your Understanding

Choose the correct option for each sentence:

1. The fear of heights _______ acrophobia. (it’s called / it called)
2. The dog ran to the door when _______ for dinner. (it’s called / it called)
3. In grammar, this structure _______ a dependent clause. (it’s called / it called)
4. The phone went silent, then _______ back thirty seconds later. (it’s called / it called)
5. That app that tracks your sleep _______ SleepScore. (it’s called / it called)
6. The system detected a fault and _______ the technician. (it’s called / it called)

Answers

Question	Answer	Reason
1	It’s called	Naming a fear/condition
2	It called	Past action dog was called (but here “it” is subject calling)
3	It’s called	Naming a grammar structure
4	It called	Past action phone called back
5	It’s called	Naming an app by title
6	It called	Past action system triggered a call

Conclusion

The difference between “it’s called” and “it called” is small in spelling but large in meaning. “It’s called” names or identifies something it is the passive construction you reach for when introducing a term, title, or label. “It called” describes a past action where the subject actively did the calling. One tiny apostrophe draws the entire line between these two uses.

The fastest way to stay on track is to test the contraction: replace “it’s” with “it is” and check if the sentence still works. If it does, you are naming something and “it’s called” is correct. If the sentence sounds broken, you likely need simple past tense. Once this habit becomes automatic, both forms will feel natural and clear in every context.