When learning its called vs it called, this article helps writers and English learners understand the subtle difference between these phrases clearly and correctly. The article will break down the difference between its called and it called, an important difference that can leave writers and English learners confused. Grammatically, its called is usually meant to be “it’s called,” meaning “it is called,” while it called is a different phrase that describes an action performed by “it.” For example, “It’s called a laptop” gives a name, whereas “It called me yesterday” describes something making a call. Once you understand the difference, these sentences become easier to write correctly, and each example becomes easier to understand.
In my experience, the most common mistakes happen when writers leave out the apostrophe, causing its called to look correct even though its normally shows possession. This can make a sentence sound awkward or grammatically incorrect, especially in professional writing and formal communication. The same basic rule applies in American English and British English, so these expressions do not change because of regional English differences. Study clear examples, identify what the sentence means, and select the right phrase and correct form. This simple approach can help you feel more confident and choose the appropriate expression every time.
Quick Answer: Its Called vs It Called
If you are naming something, use it’s called, not its called.
- It’s called = “It is called.”
- It called = “It” performed the action of calling.
- Its called = usually an incorrect form when the intended meaning is “it is called.”
- Its without an apostrophe normally shows possession.
- It’s with an apostrophe is the contraction of it is or it has.
For example:
It’s called a smartphone.
This means:
It is called a smartphone.
But:
It called me yesterday.
means that something made a call to the speaker.
What Does “It’s Called” Mean?
It’s called is a contraction of it is called.We use it when we want to tell someone the name, title, or term used for something.
For example:
- It’s called a dictionary.
- It’s called the Grand Hotel.
- It’s called artificial intelligence.
- It’s called a hybrid vehicle.
- It’s called the latest version of the software.
In each sentence, it’s means it is.
You can test the sentence by replacing it’s with it is:
It’s called a laptop.
becomes:
It is called a laptop.
The sentence still makes sense, so it’s is correct.
What Does “Its Called” Mean?
Its called is usually incorrect when you want to say “it is called.”
The problem is the missing apostrophe.
The word its without an apostrophe is a possessive determiner. It shows that something belongs to or is associated with something.
For example:
- The dog wagged its tail.
- The company changed its policy.
- The phone lost its connection.
- The tree dropped its leaves.
In these examples, its expresses possession or association.
Therefore:
Its called a laptop. ❌
should normally be:
It’s called a laptop. ✅
What Does “It Called” Mean?
It called is a different grammatical construction.
Here, it is the subject and called is the past-tense verb call.
For example:
The company called me yesterday.
You could also say:
It called me yesterday.
Here, it refers to something that made a call. The sentence does not mean “it is called.”
Other examples include:
- The machine called the support number.
- The office called me this morning.
- The automated system called my phone.
- I waited while it called the technician.
- The device called the emergency service.
The surrounding context tells you what it refers to.
Its Called vs It’s Called vs It Called
| Form | Meaning | Correct? | Example |
| It’s called | It is called | Yes | It’s called a tablet. |
| Its called | Usually intended as “it is called” | No | Its called a tablet. ❌ |
| It called | It performed the action of calling | Yes | It called me yesterday. |
| Its | Shows possession | Yes | The dog moved its tail. |
The biggest mistake is confusing its and it’s.
A simple rule can help:
It’s = it is / it has
Its = possession
How to Know Whether “It’s Called” Is Correct
Use the replacement test.
Whenever you see it’s, replace it with it is.
For example:
It’s called a rose.
Try:
It is called a rose.
That works, so it’s called is correct.
Now consider:
The company changed its name.
Try replacing its with it is:
The company changed it is name.
That does not work.
Therefore, its is correct because it shows possession.
This quick test is one of the easiest ways to avoid the mistake.
Examples of “It’s Called”
Here are some everyday examples:
- It’s called a notebook.
- It’s called a hurricane.
- It’s called a shortcut.
- It’s called a password manager.
- It’s called a renewable resource.
- It’s called the main entrance.
- It’s called a compound sentence.
Examples in Questions
You can also use it’s called in questions and answers:
What is this tool called?
It’s called a screwdriver.
Another example:
What is that type of music called?
It’s called jazz.
The expression is especially useful when introducing an unfamiliar name or term.
Examples of “It Called”
Now compare those examples with it called:
- The phone called me automatically.
- The office called earlier.
- The system called the wrong number.
- The robot called the operator.
- The machine called the service center.
Here, called is a simple past verb.
You can often identify this form because something is performing the action of calling.
Why “Its Called” Is Such a Common Mistake
The confusion happens mainly because its and it’s sound the same in ordinary speech.
When you hear:
“It’s called a tablet.”
you cannot hear the apostrophe.
As a result, English learners and even native speakers sometimes write its called by mistake.
There is also a common misunderstanding that an apostrophe always means possession. In fact, the opposite is true here:
- its = possessive
- it’s = contraction
This is an unusual pattern because many possessive forms use apostrophes, but its is one of the important exceptions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Writing “Its Called”
Incorrect:
Its called a smartphone.
Correct:
It’s called a smartphone.
If you can expand the phrase to it is called, you need it’s.
Mistake 2: Using “It’s” for Possession
Incorrect:
The company changed it’s name.
Correct:
The company changed its name.
Here, the name belongs to or is associated with the company, so its is possessive.
Mistake 3: Confusing “It Called” With “It’s Called”
These sentences have completely different meanings:
It’s called a camera.
This gives the name of something.
It called me yesterday.
This says that something made a call.
One apostrophe changes the grammatical structure and meaning.
Its vs It’s: A Simple Comparison
| Word | Function | Meaning | Example |
| its | Possessive determiner | Belonging to it | The cat cleaned its paws. |
| it’s | Contraction | It is / it has | It’s called a cat. |
| it | Pronoun | Refers to a thing, animal, situation, etc. | It looks beautiful. |
Remember that it’s can also mean it has:
It’s been a long day.
Here, it’s means it has.
But in:
It’s called a laptop.
it means it is called.
American vs British English
There is no meaningful American-versus-British English difference in the basic distinction between its, it’s, and it called.
American and British English both use:
- its for possession
- it’s as a contraction of “it is” or “it has”
- it called for the past action of calling
For example, both varieties use:
It’s called a mobile phone.
The vocabulary surrounding the expression may sometimes differ. For instance, British English commonly says mobile phone, while American English commonly says cell phone. But the grammar of it’s called remains the same.
How to Remember the Difference
Use this simple memory trick:
It’s = it is
If you can replace it’s with it is, keep the apostrophe.
It’s called a laptop.
It is called a laptop. ✅
Its = belonging to it
The laptop lost its battery cover.
The battery cover belongs to the laptop. ✅
And remember:
It called = it performed a calling action in the past.
The phone called me.
It called me. ✅
FAQs
Is “its called” correct?
Usually no. If you mean “it is called,” the correct expression is “it’s called.”
Is it “it’s called” or “it called”?
Both can be correct, but they have different meanings. It’s called means “it is called,” while it called means that something performed the action of calling.
What is the difference between its and it’s?
Its is possessive, while it’s is a contraction of it is or it has.
How do I know when to use “it’s called”?
Use it’s called when giving the name or title of something.
For example:
It’s called a smartphone.
Is “it called me” grammatically correct?
Yes. It called me is grammatically correct when it refers to something that made a telephone call or performed another calling action.
Why do people write “its called”?
People often make this mistake because its and it’s sound the same when spoken. The apostrophe cannot be heard, so writers may forget it.
Is the rule different in American and British English?
No. The distinction between its, it’s, and it called is essentially the same in American and British English.
Can “it’s” mean “it has”?
Yes. It’s can mean it has, as in “It’s been raining.” In it’s called, however, it means it is called.
Summary
The difference between its called vs it called becomes much clearer when you add the commonly intended form it’s called. If you are telling someone the name of something, use it’s called, because this means “it is called.” For example, “It’s called a smartphone” is correct. Its called is normally a spelling or punctuation error in this context because its is a possessive word.
It called, however, is a legitimate phrase with a completely different meaning. It uses called as the past tense of the verb call, as in “The office called me yesterday.” The easiest way to remember the distinction is to use the replacement test: if it is works, use it’s; if you are showing possession, use its; and if “it” performed the action of calling in the past, use it called.
Actionable Takeaway
Whenever you want to say that something has a particular name, write:
It’s called… ✅
Never write:
Its called… ❌
When something made a call in the past, write:
It called me yesterday. ✅
And when you are showing possession, use:
Its name is… ✅
These three patterns cover most situations and make the its vs it’s distinction much easier to remember.
