When writing quickly, it is easy to type “its called” or “it called” and wonder whether either one is correct.
The confusion usually comes from the missing apostrophe in “its” and from the fact that “called” can work with different sentence structures.
The important point is simple: “its called” is normally incorrect when you mean “it is called.” The correct expression is “it’s called.”
However, “it called” is grammatically correct in a different situation. In that structure, called is a past-tense verb, and it is the subject.
So, “it’s called” and “it called” do not mean the same thing.
This distinction matters because its, it’s, and it followed by a past-tense verb perform different grammatical jobs. Once you understand those jobs, the confusion becomes much easier to avoid.
The most common sentence is:
It’s called the Blue House.
Here, it’s means “it is.”
But you can also say:
It called me yesterday.
Here, called means that something or someone made a telephone call.
Quick Answer
“It’s called” is correct when you mean “it is called.”
“Its called” is incorrect in standard English when you intend “it is called.”
“It called” is also correct, but it has a different meaning: “it” performed the action of calling in the past.
So:
- It’s called a notebook. = It is called a notebook.
- It called me yesterday. = It phoned me yesterday.
- Its called a notebook. ❌ = Incorrect if you mean “it is called a notebook.”
Comparison: Its Called vs It Called
| Expression | Correct? | Meaning | Grammar | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| its called | ❌ Usually incorrect | Intended as “it is called” | Incorrect contraction | Its called a rose. |
| it’s called | ✅ Yes | It is called | Contraction of it is | It’s called a rose. |
| it called | ✅ Yes | It performed the action of calling | Past-tense verb | It called me yesterday. |
| its | ✅ Yes | Belonging to or associated with it | Possessive determiner | The company changed its name. |
| it’s | ✅ Yes | It is / it has | Contraction | It’s called Green Valley. |
| it | ✅ Yes | Refers to a thing, animal, situation, or idea | Pronoun | It called me. |
For example:
It’s called a sandwich.
→ It is called a sandwich. ✓
Its called a sandwich.
→ It is called a sandwich. ✗
The second version has no apostrophe, so it cannot represent the contraction it is.
What Does “It’s Called” Mean?
“It’s called” is short for “it is called.”
It is used when you tell someone the name, label, title, or term used for something.
For example:
- Its Called vs It Called
- It’s called the Golden Gate Bridge.
- It’s called patience.
- It’s called a compound sentence.
- Its Called vs It Called
In each sentence, it’s = it is.
The phrase often appears when someone asks:
- Its Called vs It Called
- What do people call it?
- What is the name of this?
- What is this term called?
- Its Called vs It Called
“It’s” Is a Contraction
The apostrophe in it’s is important.
It’s = it is
The apostrophe represents the missing letters in the contraction.
Compare:
- it is → it’s
- she is → she’s
- he is → he’s
- that is → that’s
- who is → who’s
Therefore:
It is called a dictionary.
can naturally become:
It’s called a dictionary.
When to Use “It’s Called”
Use “it’s called” when you are identifying what something is named or known as.
Everyday conversation
Its Called vs It Called“It’s called a dragon fruit.”
School
“What is this type of sentence called?”
Its Called vs It Called
Business
“What is the new software called?”
Its Called vs It Called
Professional writing
“The process is commonly known as a merger. It’s called a strategic consolidation in some contexts.”
Academic writing
“This phenomenon is called confirmation bias.”
A Useful Sentence Pattern
One of the most common patterns is:
It’s called + name or noun.
Examples:
- Its Called vs It Called
- It’s called a smartphone.
- It’s called photosynthesis.
- It’s called the main clause.
- Its Called vs It Called
Another common pattern is:
It’s called + name.
Examples:
- Its Called vs It Called
- It’s called The Green Room.
- Its Called vs It Called
What Does “It Called” Mean?
“It called” is a completely different grammatical construction.
Here, it is the subject, and called is the simple past tense of the verb call.
The sentence means that something or someone represented by “it” made a call, summoned someone, named something, or performed another meaning of “call” in the past.
For example:
It called me yesterday.
This means:
Something or someone called me yesterday.
The word called is not being used to say what something is named.
“It Called” as a Past-Tense Verb
The verb call has several meanings.
It can mean:
- Its Called vs It Called
- to shout for someone
- to summon someone
- to name something
- to describe something in a particular way
- Its Called vs It Called
So it called can have different meanings depending on context.
Telephone meaning
My phone rang, and it called me again.
More naturally, a person or device may be the subject:
The machine called me automatically.
Naming meaning
In some contexts, called can mean named:
The author called it a masterpiece.
Notice the structure:
The author + called + it + a masterpiece.
Its Called vs It Called
It’s called a masterpiece.
The first sentence describes who gave it that name or description. The second tells us what it is called.
Summoning meaning
The alarm called everyone to the meeting.
Here, called means summoned.
“It Called” Is Not a Short Version of “It Is Called”
This is one of the most important points.
It called does not mean it is called.
The two sentences have different grammatical structures.
It’s called the Red House.
= It is called the Red House.
It called the Red House.
= It made a call to the Red House, or it summoned/called the Red House, depending on context.
The missing apostrophe does not create a harmless spelling variation. It changes the grammar and meaning.
Its Called: Why It Is Usually Wrong
The expression “its called” causes confusion because its is a real English word.
The problem is that its and it’s have different functions.
“Its” Shows Possession
Its is the possessive form of it.
It generally means belonging to it or associated with it.
Examples:
- Its Called vs It Called
- The company changed its policy.
- The tree lost its leaves.
- The phone lost its connection.
- Its Called vs It Called
In these examples, its comes before a noun.
its tail
its policy
its leaves
its connection
its laws
“Its” Does Not Mean “It Is”
This is the key rule:
its ≠ it is
The contraction of it is is:
it’s
Therefore:
Its called a flower. ❌
should be:
It’s called a flower. ✅
Why People Leave Out the Apostrophe
The mistake is common because its and it’s sound exactly the same in ordinary pronunciation.
Both are generally pronounced /ɪts/.
That means you cannot hear the apostrophe.
Compare:
- its → /ɪts/
- it’s → /ɪts/
The difference appears in writing, not pronunciation.
This is why even experienced writers sometimes make the mistake when writing quickly.
Its vs It’s: The Real Grammar Difference
The easiest way to understand the distinction is to ask what the word is doing in the sentence.
“Its” = Possession
Use its when something belongs to, comes from, or is associated with something.
Examples:
The company updated its website.
The cat cleaned its paws.
The car lost its wheel.
The school announced its decision.
“It’s” = It Is
Use it’s when you can expand it to it is.
Examples:
It’s cold.
→ It is cold.
It’s difficult.
→ It is difficult.
It’s called a vowel.
→ It is called a vowel.
It’s my favorite book.
→ It is my favorite book.
The Replacement Test
When you are unsure, use this simple test:
Replace “it’s” with “it is.”
If the sentence still works, it’s is correct.
Example:
It’s called a rose.
Replace it:
It is called a rose.
The sentence works.
Therefore:
It’s called a rose. ✅
Now try:
The rose lost it’s petals.
Replace it:
The rose lost it is petals.
That does not work.
So:
The rose lost its petals. ✅
This test solves most its/it’s problems immediately.
The Parts of Speech Involved
The difference between its called, it’s called, and it called becomes much clearer when you identify the grammatical role of each word.
“It” Is a Pronoun
It is a pronoun.
It can refer to:
- Its Called vs It Called
- an animal
- an idea
- a Its Called vs It Called
- an organization
- Its Called vs It Called
Examples:
I bought a new phone. It is expensive.
We saw a strange animal. It ran away.
The problem looks serious. It needs attention.
“Its” Is a Possessive Determiner
Its shows possession or association.
Examples:
The company released its report.
The bird spread its wings.
The country revised its policy.
It normally appears before a noun.
“It’s” Is a Contraction
It’s can represent:
it is
or, in some constructions:
it has
For this topic, it’s = it is is the important meaning.
Examples:
It’s interesting.
= It is interesting.
It’s called a metaphor.
= It is called a metaphor.
It’s ready.
= It is ready.
“Called” Is a Verb or Past Participle
Called is the past-tense and past-participle form of call.
It can appear in several structures.
Simple past:
She called me.
Passive construction:
It is called a rose.
Perfect construction:
They have called the meeting.
This distinction explains why “it called” and “it’s called” are not interchangeable.
Active Voice vs Passive Voice
This is another important difference.
Consider:
It called me.
This is an active construction.
The subject it performs the action.
It → called → me
Now consider:
It’s called a rose.
This is a passive construction.
Something gives the subject the name a rose.
The structure is:
It + is + called + a rose
This is why “it’s called” is so common when talking about names and labels.
Compare the Structures
| Sentence | Structure | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| It called me. | Subject + past verb + object | It made a call to me. |
| It’s called a rose. | Subject + be + past participle | It is named a rose. |
| Its petals are red. | Possessive determiner + noun | The petals belong to it. |
These three sentences look similar, but their grammar is completely different.
Why “It’s Called” Is So Common
The passive construction “is called” is extremely useful when identifying names.
You can use it for:
- Its Called vs It Called
- places
- animals
- concepts
- Its Called vs It Called
- scientific processes
- products
- businesses
- methods
- techniques
- Its Called vs It Called
Examples:
This process is called evaporation.
That building is called City Hall.
This grammar rule is called subject-verb agreement.
The technique is called active listening.
The dish is called paella.
In informal conversation, “it’s called” is simply the contracted form of “it is called.”
Formal and Informal Usage
Both “it is called” and “it’s called” are grammatically correct.
The main difference is tone.
“It’s Called”
It’s called is natural and conversational.
Use it freely in:
- Its Called vs It Called
- emails
- messages
- blogs
- Its Called vs It Called
- interviews
- informal explanations
- Its Called vs It Called
Example:
The new program is called SkillTrack.
Or:
It’s called SkillTrack.
“It Is Called”
It is called can sound slightly more formal or deliberate.
It may fit better when you want a more formal tone.
Example:
This process is known as osmosis. It is called a passive transport mechanism.
Neither version is automatically more correct.
Professional Writing
In most professional writing, there is no need to avoid it’s simply because it is a contraction.
However, if the document has a highly formal tone, the writer may prefer:
It is called the standard model.
instead of:
It’s called the standard model.
The important point is that “its called” is not an alternative formal version.
It is simply incorrect when “it is” is intended.
Academic Writing
Academic writing often favors a more formal style, depending on the discipline and institution.
You may see:
The process is called cellular respiration.
rather than:
It’s called cellular respiration.
But contractions are not automatically grammatically wrong in academic writing.
The choice depends on the publication, instructor, discipline, and style requirements.
The APA Style, Chicago Manual of Style, and other professional style resources can differ in matters of editorial preference, but none changes the fundamental distinction between its and it’s.
The grammar remains:
its = possessive
it’s = it is / it has
British English vs American English
There is essentially no US-versus-UK difference in the rule here.
American English and British English both use:
- Its Called vs It Called
- it’s for it is
- it called when called is a past-tense verb
For example, both varieties use:
The company changed its name.
and:
It’s called Green Valley.
The apostrophe rule does not change based on English variety.
Pronunciation: Its vs It’s
One reason this mistake survives is pronunciation.
Its and it’s are normally pronounced the same way:
/ɪts/
That means:
its
and
it’s
are homophones in ordinary speech.
You cannot rely on pronunciation to decide which spelling to use.
Instead, look at the grammar.
Pronunciation of “It Called”
It called has two syllables:
it / called
The past-tense -ed in called is pronounced as a /d/ sound.
So:
it called
sounds different from:
its
and:
it’s
The issue is therefore primarily a writing and grammar problem, not a pronunciation problem.
Common Situations Where “It’s Called” Is Correct
Naming an Object
It’s called a stapler.
Naming a Place
It’s called Lakeview Park.
Naming a Person
It’s called David.
For a person, however, “His name is David” or “Her name is David” may be more natural depending on the context.
Naming a Concept
It’s called cognitive bias.
Naming a Grammar Rule
It’s called the passive voice.
Naming a Product
It’s called the Pro model.
Naming a Food
It’s called sushi.
Naming a Process
It’s called fermentation.
20+ Real-Life Examples
The following examples show how the expressions work in real contexts.
Everyday Conversation
- Its Called vs It Called It’s called a wrench.
- Do you know this flower?
Yes. It’s called a sunflower. - What’s this game called?
It’s called chess. - I forgot the name of that place.
It’s called Riverside Café.
Text Messages
- Its Called vs It CalledIt’s called NoteBox.
- I finally found the book. It’s called The Silent Garden.
- What do you call this kind of jacket?
Its Called vs It Called
School
- This type of sentence is called a compound sentence.
- Its Called vs It Called
- It’s called a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Business
- The new service is called Express Support.
- Its Called vs It Called
- The company changed its name last year, and now it’s called Northstar Solutions.
- Its Called vs It Called
- I have attached the file. It’s called “Project Summary.”
Professional Writing
- This approach is called risk-based planning.
- The method is commonly called predictive analysis.
- Its Called vs It Called
Academic Writing
- This phenomenon is called confirmation bias.
- Its Called vs It Called
- The grammatical structure is called a relative clause.
Daily Life
- The restaurant is called Green Garden.
- Its Called vs It Called
- That machine is called a pressure washer.
Examples with “It Called”
- Its Called vs It Called
- The robot called the technician for assistance.
- The alarm called everyone back to the building.
- The manager called the meeting yesterday.
Notice how different these examples are from:
It’s called a meeting.
The first group uses called as an active past-tense verb. The second uses is called to identify or describe something.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “Its Called”
❌ Its called a laptop.
Why is it wrong?
The writer means:
It is called a laptop.
The contraction for it is is it’s, not its.
Correct:
It’s called a laptop.
Better formal alternative:
It is called a laptop.
Mistake 2: Using “Its” for “It Is”
❌ Its very cold today.
Correct:
It’s very cold today.
Test:
It is very cold today.
The expanded sentence works, so it’s is correct.
Mistake 3: Using “It’s” for Possession
❌ The company changed it’s policy.
Correct:
The company changed its policy.
You cannot replace its with it is:
The company changed it is policy. ❌
Therefore, its is required.
Mistake 4: Treating “It Called” as “It Is Called”
❌ It called the Blue House.
If your intended meaning is that the place has the name Blue House, this sentence is wrong.
Correct:
It’s called the Blue House.
However, it called the Blue House could be grammatical if it is something that made a call to the Blue House.
The meaning depends on the context.
Mistake 5: Assuming Apostrophes Always Show Possession
This is a common misunderstanding.
In it’s, the apostrophe does not show possession.
It marks a contraction.
it’s = it is
By contrast:
its = possessive
This is unusual because many possessive forms use apostrophes:
- John’s
- Sarah’s
- the company’s
- the dog’s
But its does not use an apostrophe for possession.
That is why this pair causes so many mistakes.
A Simple Decision Method
When you see its, it’s, or it called, ask these questions.
Step 1: Do you mean “it is”?
If yes, use:
it’s
Example:
It’s called a rose.
Step 2: Are you showing possession?
If yes, use:
its
Example:
The rose lost its petals.
Step 3: Is “called” a past action?
If yes, it called may be correct.
Example:
It called me yesterday.
Step 4: Are you saying what something is named?
Use:
it’s called
Example:
It’s called the Blue House.
Memory Tricks
Trick 1: Expand “It’s”
Whenever you see it’s, ask:
Can I say it is?
If yes, keep it’s.
It’s beautiful.
→ It is beautiful. ✓
It’s called a rose.
→ It is called a rose. ✓
Trick 2: “Its” Needs a Noun
When its shows possession, it usually comes before a noun.
its name
its color
its owner
its purpose
its location
Think:
its + thing
Trick 3: “Called” Can Be an Action
If something actually performed the action of calling, use the past-tense form:
It called me.
Think:
it → did the calling
But when you identify a name:
It’s called…
Think:
it → is named
Trick 4: Remember the Missing “I”
it’s contains the apostrophe because it represents the missing i in:
it is
Think:
it’s → it is
That makes it easier to remember why its cannot mean it is.
Quick Comparison Examples
| Incorrect or Different Form | Correct Form | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Its called a dog. | It’s called a dog. | “It is called” needs it’s. |
| The dog lost it’s collar. | The dog lost its collar. | Possession needs its. |
| Its raining. | It’s raining. | “It is raining.” |
| It called a dog. | It called a dog. | Correct only if “it” performed the calling/naming action. |
| It called the Blue House. | It’s called the Blue House. | Use it’s called when identifying a name. |
| The company changed it’s logo. | The company changed its logo. | The logo belongs to the company. |
FAQs
Is “its called” grammatically correct?
“Its called” is normally incorrect when you mean “it is called.” The correct form is “it’s called.”
For example:
It’s called a notebook.
Is “it called” correct English?
Yes. “It called” can be grammatically correct when it is the subject performing the action of calling.
For example:
The machine called me.
Here, called is the simple past tense of call.
Is “it’s called” or “its called” correct?
“It’s called” is correct when you mean “it is called.”
“Its called” is incorrect for that meaning.
Why does “its” not have an apostrophe?
Its is the possessive form of it. English does not use an apostrophe in this possessive form.
For example:
The company changed its name.
Are “its” and “it’s” pronounced differently?
Usually, no. Its and it’s are normally pronounced the same: /ɪts/.
Their difference is grammatical and written.
Can “it’s” mean “it has”?
Yes. It’s can represent it has in certain constructions.
For example:
It’s been a long day.
This means:
It has been a long day.
However, in “it’s called,” the natural expansion is:
It is called.
Should I use “it is called” instead of “it’s called”?
Both are correct.
“It’s called” is natural and conversational. “It is called” can sound more formal or deliberate.
Choose according to the tone of your writing.
Is “its called” a spelling mistake?
Yes, when the writer intends “it is called.”
The problem is not with the word called. The problem is that its has been used instead of it’s.
Is this rule different in British and American English?
No. Both British and American English distinguish its from it’s in the same basic way.
The Most Important Difference
The easiest way to remember everything is to focus on the meaning.
Use “it’s called” when something has a name
It’s called a bicycle.
Meaning:
It is called a bicycle.
Use “its” when something belongs to it
The bicycle lost its wheel.
Meaning:
The wheel belongs to the bicycle.
Use “it called” when it performed a calling action
The device called me.
Meaning:
The device made the call.
These are three different grammatical patterns.
Conclusion
The answer to “its called vs it called” depends on what you want to say.
If you mean “it is called,” the correct expression is:
It’s called. ✅
If you mean that something performed the action of calling in the past, then:
It called. ✅
If you write:
Its called… ❌
when you mean “it is called,” you have used the possessive its where the contraction it’s is required.
The easiest rule is:
It’s = it is
Its = belonging to it
It called = it performed a calling action
So remember these three examples:
It’s called a rose.
The rose lost its petals.
The machine called me.
I am Julian Brooks, an English language enthusiast and content writer at EnglishAcademy. I create clear grammar lessons, vocabulary guides, and writing tips to help learners improve their English with confidence every day.