Its Called vs It Called: Which Is Correct?

Have you ever wondered about the difference between its called vs it called when writing a sentence? 🤔 This is a common grammar confusion because these phrases look very similar, but they have different meanings and grammatical uses. There is also an important form that many writers overlook: “it’s called.”

The correct choice depends on what you are trying to say. If you mean that something has a particular name, the standard expression is “it’s called,” which means “it is called.” For example, “It’s called a smartphone” means “It is called a smartphone.”

By contrast, “it called” can be correct when it is the subject performing the action of calling. For example, “It called me yesterday” means that something or someone referred to as “it” made a call.

The phrase “its called” is generally incorrect when you mean “it is called.” The apostrophe in “it’s” is important because it marks a contraction of “it is” or “it has.”

Let’s look at the difference in a simple way. Team Which or Team Who or Team That | Extensible vs Extendible | Soo vs So

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Quick Answer: Its Called vs It Called

If you mean “it is called,” use “it’s called.” The apostrophe in it’s represents the missing letters in the contraction it is.

“It called” can also be grammatically correct, but it has a different meaning: something referred to as it performed the action of calling. “Its called” is normally incorrect when the intended meaning is “it is called.”

Examples:

• ✅ It’s called a laptop.
• ❌ Its called a laptop.
• ✅ It called me last night.

The easiest rule is:

It’s = it is / it has
Its = belonging to it
It = subject or object pronoun

Cambridge Dictionary confirms that it’s is the contracted form of it is or it has, while its is a possessive form used to show that something belongs to or is connected with something.

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Understanding the Basics: Its Called vs It Called

The confusion becomes much easier once you separate the three forms:

• it’s called
• its called
• it called

These forms are not interchangeable.

Comparison Table

Form	Type	Meaning	Example	Correct/Incorrect
It’s called	Contraction + passive construction	It is called	It’s called a blue whale.	✅ Correct
Its called	Possessive determiner + verb	Usually intended as “it is called”	Its called a blue whale.	❌ Incorrect for this meaning
It called	Pronoun + past-tense verb	It made a call or summoned someone	It called me yesterday.	✅ Correct
Its	Possessive determiner	Belonging to it	The company changed its name.	✅ Correct
It’s	Contraction	It is or it has	It’s called a new model.	✅ Correct

Why “It’s Called” Is Usually the Form You Want

Consider this sentence:

It’s called a telescope.

You can expand it’s:

It is called a telescope.

The sentence still makes sense.

That is the main test.

If “it is” works in the sentence, “it’s” is appropriate.

Why “Its Called” Is Usually Wrong

Now consider:

Its called a telescope.

If you expand its, you do not get:

It is called a telescope.

The word its is possessive. It normally comes before a noun:

• The dog wagged its tail.
• The company updated its website.
• The phone lost its signal.
• The machine changed its settings.

Because called is a verb or participle here, its called does not normally express the intended meaning “it is called.”

Why “It Called” Can Be Correct

It called me yesterday.

Here, it is the subject and called is the past-tense verb.

The meaning is:

Something referred to as “it” made a call to me.

For example:

The automated system called me yesterday.

You could shorten the reference:

It called me yesterday.

So it called is not automatically wrong. It simply means something different from it’s called.

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Correct Meanings & Uses

1. “It’s Called” Means “It Is Called”

The most common use is it’s called when giving the name of something.

Examples:

• It’s called a dictionary.
• It’s called the blue room.
• It’s called a hybrid car.
• It’s called a rain gauge.
• It’s called a shortcut.

In each example, it’s means it is.

For example:

It’s called a rain gauge.

Breakdown:

• It = the thing being discussed
• ’s = is
• called = given a name or referred to by a particular name
• a rain gauge = the name or description

Expanded version:

It is called a rain gauge.

2. “It’s Called” Can Introduce a Name

You can use it’s called when introducing a person, place, object, idea, method, or concept.

Examples:

• The new app is called BrightNote.
• This method is called active listening.
• That building is called City Hall.
• The process is called recycling.
• The tool is called a measuring cup.

In informal conversation, you might say:

“What is this called?”

The answer could be:

“It’s called a measuring spoon.”

3. “It Called” Means It Performed the Action

The phrase it called uses called as a normal past-tense verb.

Examples:

• It called me yesterday.
• It called twice this morning.
• It called the emergency number automatically.
• The device detected movement and it called the support center.

Here, it is doing the calling.

This is completely different from:

It’s called a security device.

The first sentence says something made a call.

The second sentence says something has a particular name or description.

4. “Its” Shows Possession

The word its without an apostrophe shows possession or association.

Examples:

• The cat cleaned its paws.
• The company changed its policy.
• The car lost its mirror.
• The computer updated its software.
• The organization published its report.

Notice that its usually comes before a noun.

That is an important clue.

Test Tip

Try replacing it’s with it is.

If the sentence still makes sense, it’s is probably correct.

It’s called a rose.

→ It is called a rose. ✅

Now try:

The flower lost it’s petals.

→ The flower lost it is petals. ❌

Therefore:

The flower lost its petals. ✅

Cambridge specifically explains that its does not use an apostrophe when it means “of it” or “belonging to it.”

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Case Study: A Workplace Conversation

Imagine that a new software system has been introduced at work.

A manager says:

“We have a new system. It’s called WorkTrack.”

This is correct because the manager means:

“It is called WorkTrack.”

Now imagine an employee is explaining what happened earlier:

“The system called me this morning.”

This is also grammatically correct if the system actually made a phone call.

Now consider this sentence:

“The system changed its settings.”

Here, its is correct because the settings belong to or are associated with the system.

The three forms have three different jobs:

• It’s called WorkTrack. → It is named WorkTrack.
• It called me. → It made a call.
• It changed its settings. → The settings belong to the system.

This simple workplace example shows why punctuation and sentence structure matter.

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Grammar Rules Explanation

Rule 1: “It’s” Is a Contraction

A contraction combines words into a shorter form.

It is → it’s

For example:

• It is cold. → It’s cold.
• It is ready. → It’s ready.
• It is called Alex. → It’s called Alex.

Cambridge’s grammar guidance explains that an apostrophe in a contraction indicates that letters have been left out. It gives it is → it’s as a standard example.

Rule 2: “Its” Is Possessive

Its shows possession or connection.

Examples:

• The dog wagged its tail.
• The company updated its logo.
• The country changed its laws.

Unlike many possessive forms, its does not use an apostrophe.

This can feel unusual because English often uses apostrophes for possession:

• Sarah’s book
• the dog’s collar
• the company’s office

But the possessive form of it is simply:

its

Not:

it’s

Rule 3: Passive Voice Uses “Be + Past Participle”

The expression it’s called is also connected with passive voice.

Compare:

People call it Blue Mountain.

Active voice:

• People = doer
• call = verb
• it = object

Passive voice:

It is called Blue Mountain.

Here, it becomes the grammatical subject, while the focus is on what it is called.

Cambridge explains that passive constructions commonly use a form of be with a past participle.

Therefore:

It is called…

becomes:

It’s called…

Rule 4: “Called” Is the Past Participle of “Call”

The verb call has these common forms:

Form	Example
Base form	I call
Third-person singular	She calls
Past tense	She called
Past participle	It was called

In the phrase:

It is called a rose.

called is part of the passive construction.

Merriam-Webster lists call as a verb with meanings that include speaking to someone, making a telephone call, asking or requesting, and giving a name or designation in appropriate constructions.

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Why “Its Called” Causes Confusion

The biggest reason is that its and it’s sound very similar in ordinary speech.

When someone says:

“It’s called…”

you usually cannot hear the apostrophe.

The listener hears something close to:

“its called…”

That can make the written distinction difficult.

English learners may also notice that many possessive words contain apostrophes:

• John’s
• Mary’s
• the dog’s
• the company’s

This can create the false idea that it’s must be possessive.

But it’s is actually a contraction.

That is one of English grammar’s most common punctuation traps.

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Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Writing “Its Called”

Incorrect:

Its called a smartphone.

Correct:

It’s called a smartphone.

Why?

Because the intended meaning is:

It is called a smartphone.

Mistake 2: Using “It’s” for Possession

Incorrect:

The phone lost it’s battery cover.

Correct:

The phone lost its battery cover.

Why?

The battery cover belongs to or is associated with the phone.

Mistake 3: Changing “It Called” Into “It’s Called”

These sentences can have different meanings.

It called me.

Something made a phone call.

It’s called me.

This does not normally express that meaning.

If you mean that something made a call, use it called.

Mistake 4: Relying Only on Sound

Because its and it’s often sound similar, listening is not enough.

You need to examine the meaning and sentence structure.

Ask:

Does “it is” work here?

If yes, use it’s.

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Similar Grammar Confusions

Confusion	Correct Form	Meaning
its / it’s	its / it’s	possession vs. it is/it has
your / you’re	your / you’re	possession vs. you are
their / they’re	their / they’re	possession vs. they are
there / their / they’re	depends on meaning	place, possession, or they are
whose / who’s	whose / who’s	possession vs. who is/who has
its called / it’s called	it’s called	it is called
your called / you’re called	you’re called	you are called

Why Do These Mistakes Happen?

Several everyday factors can cause errors.

Fast Typing

When people type quickly, they may omit apostrophes or choose the wrong word.

For example:

Its called…

may appear simply because the writer is typing quickly.

Autocorrect

Autocorrect and predictive text can sometimes select a form that does not match the writer’s intended meaning.

Always reread important messages.

Lack of Knowledge

Some writers have never learned the difference between contractions and possessive determiners.

Once you understand the rule, the distinction becomes much easier.

Similar Pronunciation

Its and it’s are pronounced similarly, so speech does not always reveal the correct spelling.

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Usage in Different Contexts

Everyday Conversation

In casual speech, it’s called is extremely natural.

Examples:

• “What’s that?”
• “It’s called a compass.”

Another example:

• “What do you call this?”
• “It’s called a charger.”

In conversation, people often use contractions because they sound natural and keep speech flowing.

Professional Writing

In professional writing, both forms can appear, depending on meaning.

For example:

The procedure is called quality control.

This is a clear formal sentence.

You can also write:

It’s called quality control.

The second version is perfectly grammatical, although the first may be more direct in formal documentation.

For emails, reports, and workplace communication, make sure its and it’s are used according to their grammatical roles.

Creative Writing

Creative writers may use contractions to create a natural voice.

Example:

“It’s called the old station,” Maya said.

The contraction makes the dialogue sound natural.

Narrative writing can also use the full form:

The building was called the old station.

Both are correct.

Social Media and Texting

Social media posts and texts often contain shortened or informal language.

You might see:

“This place is amazing! It’s called Moon Cafe.”

That is grammatically correct.

You might also see:

“Its called Moon Cafe.”

This is common online, but common usage does not make the spelling standard.

For polished posts, captions, blogs, and professional content, use it’s called when you mean it is called.

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Why It Matters

Correct word choice helps readers understand your meaning quickly.

Clarity in Communication

Compare:

Its called the Blue Room.

with:

It’s called the Blue Room.

The second sentence clearly shows the contraction it is.

Professionalism

Small grammar mistakes can affect how polished your writing appears.

This matters in:

• Emails
• Reports
• School assignments
• Websites
• Articles
• Business documents
• Resumes
• Social media content

Digital Communication

Digital writing is often read quickly. A clear sentence makes it easier for readers to understand your message without stopping to interpret what you meant.

A simple apostrophe can therefore make a meaningful difference.

“Clear writing makes the intended meaning easier to see.”

The goal is not to make every sentence complicated. The goal is to make every sentence easy to understand.

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Special Exception: When “Its Called” Might Appear

In standard English, its called is not the correct form when you mean it is called.

However, you may encounter the exact sequence its called in unusual contexts, such as:

• A quotation containing an error
• A typo in informal online writing
• A transcription that preserves someone’s original wording
• A title, username, brand, or creative name deliberately written that way

These cases do not change the standard grammar rule.

If you are writing a normal English sentence meaning “it is called,” use:

It’s called.

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“It’s Called” vs “It Called” in Sentence Structure

Understanding sentence structure can make the difference obvious.

Sentence A: It’s Called

It’s called a camera.

Structure:

It + is + called + noun

Meaning:

Someone gives this object the name “camera.”

Expanded:

It is called a camera.

Sentence B: It Called

It called the office.

Structure:

It + called + object

Meaning:

Something or someone referred to as “it” contacted the office.

There is no contraction.

Compare the Meaning

Sentence	Meaning
It’s called a camera.	Its name or designation is camera.
It called the office.	It made a call to the office.
Its camera is broken.	The camera belongs to or is associated with it.

These three sentences use similar-looking words but communicate three different ideas.

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A Simple Memory Trick

Use this three-step memory trick:

Step 1: See “It’s”

Think:

It’s = it is

Example:

It’s called…

→ It is called…

Step 2: See “Its”

Think:

Its = belonging to it

Example:

The company changed its name.

Step 3: See “It Called”

Think:

It + past action

Example:

It called me.

This trick is quick enough to use while editing.

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Quick Recap Checklist

Use the following checklist whenever you are unsure.

Question	If Yes → Use
Do I mean “it is called”?	It’s called
Do I mean something made a call?	It called
Do I mean something belongs to it?	Its
Can I replace “it’s” with “it is”?	It’s
Is “its” followed by a noun showing possession?	Its

Practice Examples

1. ___ called the Red House.

Answer: It’s

Full sentence:

It’s called the Red House.

Reason: “It is called the Red House” works.

2. The dog wagged ___ tail.

Answer: its

Full sentence:

The dog wagged its tail.

Reason: The tail belongs to the dog.

3. The automated service ___ me yesterday.

Answer: it called

Full sentence:

The automated service called me yesterday.

If replacing “the automated service” with it:

It called me yesterday.

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How to Remember “Its” vs “It’s”

A useful rule is:

The apostrophe in “it’s” usually signals missing letters, not possession.

This is important because learners often expect possessive forms to use apostrophes.

Compare:

• John’s book → possession
• the dog’s food → possession
• its food → possession
• it’s ready → it is ready

The word its is an important exception to the common apostrophe pattern for possession.

Cambridge’s grammar guidance specifically notes that its is used without an apostrophe when it means “of it” or “belonging to it.”

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When to Use “It’s Called” in Questions and Answers

The phrase often appears in answers to naming questions.

Question:

What is this tool called?

Answer:

It’s called a wrench.

Another example:

Question:

What is that process called?

Answer:

It’s called fermentation.

The structure is natural because it’s called means it is called.

You can also use the full form:

It is called fermentation.

Both are correct.

The contraction is simply more conversational.

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When to Use “It Called” in Questions and Answers

Use it called when the subject performed the action.

Question:

What happened this morning?

Answer:

It called me twice.

Here, called means “made a phone call.”

Another example:

Why did the system make a noise?

It called the support line automatically.

The exact context tells us what it refers to.

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FAQs

1. Is “its called” correct?

Usually, no. If you mean “it is called,” the correct form is “it’s called.” The apostrophe shows that it’s is a contraction of it is.

2. Is “it’s called” correct?

Yes. “It’s called” is correct when you mean “it is called.”

Example:

It’s called a notebook.

Expanded:

It is called a notebook.

3. Is “it called” grammatically correct?

Yes. “It called” can be grammatically correct when it is the subject performing the action of calling.

Example:

It called me yesterday.

Here, called is the past-tense verb.

4. What is the difference between “its” and “it’s”?

Its shows possession or association.

Example:

The company changed its name.

It’s is a contraction of it is or it has.

Example:

It’s a new company.

Cambridge confirms this distinction in its grammar guidance.

5. How can I remember whether to use “its” or “it’s”?

Try replacing it’s with it is.

If the sentence still works, use it’s.

Example:

It’s called a rose.

→ It is called a rose. ✅

If the sentence expresses possession, use its.

Example:

The rose lost its petals. ✅

6. Which is correct: “its called a name” or “it’s called a name”?

Use “it’s called a name” if you mean “it is called a name.”

For example:

It’s called a sunflower.

The form its called is incorrect for this meaning.

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Conclusion

The difference between “its called” and “it called” becomes simple once you understand the role of the apostrophe. When you mean “it is called,” use “it’s called.” The apostrophe represents the missing letters in it is. When you mean that something made a phone call or performed another calling action, “it called” can be correct. And when you are showing possession, use “its” without an apostrophe.

Remember these three forms:

• It’s called = It is called
• It called = It performed the action of calling
• Its = belonging to it

The fastest test is to replace it’s with it is. If the sentence still makes sense, it’s is the right choice. If you are showing possession, choose its.

When in doubt, expand the contraction: “it’s” means “it is” or “it has.”