“It’s called” is correct when you’re naming or identifying something. “Its called” is never correct — it’s missing an apostrophe. “It called” is a completely different phrase that describes a past action, not a name. The mix-up happens because “its” and “it’s” sound identical, even though only one of them can carry an apostrophe.
Quick Answer
| Form | Correct? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| It’s called | ✅ Yes | Contraction of “it is called” — used to name something |
| Its called | ❌ No | Not a real construction; missing the apostrophe “it’s” needs |
| It called | ✅ Yes (different meaning) | Past tense of “call” — describes an action, not a name |
Correct: It’s called a French press.
Incorrect: Its called a French press.
If you’re labeling or naming something, you need the apostrophe. If “it” performed the action of calling someone, drop the apostrophe entirely and use “it called.”
What Do “It’s Called,” “Its Called,” and “It Called” Mean?
It’s Called (Correct Contraction of “It Is Called”)
“It’s called” is short for “it is called.” The apostrophe stands in for the missing letters in “is.” You’ll use this form whenever you’re introducing the name of an object, concept, or place.
Example: It’s called a metronome, and musicians use it to keep a steady tempo.
Its Called (Always Incorrect)
“Its called” isn’t a valid phrase in standard English. “Its” is a possessive pronoun, and a possessive pronoun can’t sit directly in front of “called” and form a complete thought — there’s no verb holding the sentence together.
Incorrect: Its called a metronome. Correct: It’s called a metronome.
It Called (Past-Tense Action — a Different Meaning)
“It called” uses “called” as a regular past-tense verb. Here, “it” is the subject actually performing the action of calling — not receiving a label.
Example: The alarm system glitched, and it called the wrong emergency number.
Why Doesn’t “Its” Take an Apostrophe?
This is the part most people never get a straight answer to. Every other possessive pronoun in English — his, hers, ours, yours, theirs — also skips the apostrophe. “Its” simply follows that same pattern.
Interestingly, this wasn’t always the rule. According to Merriam-Webster, the possessive form of “it” actually was written with an apostrophe (“it’s”) starting around 1600, matching how possessive nouns like “April’s” are formed. Through the 1600s, both forms coexisted, but by the 1700s the apostrophe-free “its” had become the standard — likely because “it’s” was being claimed for the contraction of “it is,” and the language needed a clean way to tell the two jobs apart.
So today, the apostrophe in English signals one thing only: something is missing. “Its” has nothing missing — it’s a complete word on its own — so it gets no apostrophe.
How to Test Which Form Is Correct
Before you type “it’s,” “its,” or “it called,” run this quick check:
- Try substituting “it is” or “it has.” If the sentence still makes sense, use “it’s.”
- Ask if something belongs to “it.” If you’re describing ownership or a quality, use “its” with no apostrophe.
- Check whether “it” is doing an action. If “it” is the one performing the calling, use “it called” as a normal past-tense sentence.
Test in action: “___ called a compass.” Swap in “it is” → “It is called a compass” works, so the answer is “it’s called.”
It’s Called vs Its Called vs It Called: Comparison Table
| Feature | It’s Called | Its Called | It Called |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammatical role | Contraction (it is + called) | Not valid | Subject + past-tense verb |
| Apostrophe | Yes | No apostrophe, but still wrong | No apostrophe needed |
| Function | Names or labels something | — | Describes a completed action |
| Example | It’s called a rescue dog. | ❌ Its called a rescue dog. | The dog called out from the yard. |
| Can you substitute “it is”? | Yes | — | No |
Common Mistakes People Make With These Phrases
Mistake 1 Incorrect: Its called a laptop. Correct: It’s called a laptop. Explanation: “Called” needs a helping verb before it, so the sentence requires the contraction “it’s.”
Mistake 2 Incorrect: The dog wagged it’s tail. Correct: The dog wagged its tail. Explanation: This sentence shows possession — the tail belongs to the dog — so no apostrophe belongs here.
Mistake 3 Incorrect: It’s called them twice today. Correct: It called them twice today. Explanation: Nothing is being named in this sentence; “it” is performing a past action, so drop the apostrophe and “called” alone.
Mistake 4 Incorrect: Its’ called a puzzle. Correct: It’s called a puzzle. Explanation: “Its'” (apostrophe after the s) isn’t a word in English under any circumstance.
Example Sentences
- Everyday: It’s called a French press, and it makes stronger coffee than a drip machine.
- Academic: In her thesis, she explained what the phenomenon is called and why researchers still debate its cause.
- Workplace: The manager asked what the new approval process was called before rolling it out to the team.
- Online forms: Enter the name of the document as it’s called on your official ID.
- Formal writing: The clause is formally referred to as the indemnification clause within the agreement.
- Past-action (“it called”): The courier’s tracker glitched, and it called the wrong delivery address.
Does “It’s Called” Change in American vs. British English?
Not in any meaningful way. Both American and British English follow the same rule: “it’s” is a contraction, “its” is a possessive pronoun, and “its called” is wrong in both varieties. The only difference is one of style rather than grammar — formal British academic writing leans slightly more toward the fully written-out “it is called,” while American writing tends to use “it’s called” more freely across both casual and professional contexts. Neither dialect makes an exception that allows “its called” without an apostrophe.
Similar Naming Phrases: “Is Called,” “Is Named,” and Alternatives
Several other phrases can stand in for “it’s called,” depending on tone:
- Is called — a slightly more neutral, less contracted version. The bridge is called the Golden Gate.
- Is known as — common in explanatory or academic writing. This effect is known as the placebo effect.
- Is referred to as — formal, often used in legal or technical writing. The committee is referred to as the board.
- Is termed — technical or scientific tone. This reaction is termed oxidation.
- Goes by — casual and conversational. The app goes by a different name overseas.
These are largely interchangeable with “it’s called,” though “is termed” and “is referred to as” fit more formal contexts, while “goes by” is best kept casual.
Common Misspellings
- Its called — missing the apostrophe entirely
- It’s’ called or its’ called — an apostrophe placed after the “s,” which isn’t valid in either word
- It;s called — a stray punctuation mark from fast typing
- It called’ — an apostrophe added where it doesn’t belong
Autocorrect can make this worse: some keyboards will “fix” “its” into “it’s” (or the reverse) based on surrounding words, so it’s worth proofreading sentences with either form before sending or publishing.
Memory Tricks to Remember the Difference
(These are learning aids, not official grammar rules.)
- Think of “its” alongside “his” and “hers” — none of the three ever take an apostrophe.
- If you can mentally expand the word into two words (“it is” or “it has”) and the sentence still makes sense, keep the apostrophe.
- Picture the apostrophe as a placeholder for a missing letter — “its” isn’t missing anything, so it doesn’t need one.
Practice Quiz
- Which sentence is correct? a) Its called a bicycle. b) It’s called a bicycle. c) It called a bicycle.
- Fill in the blank: The cat scratched ____ favorite post. (its / it’s)
- Correct the sentence: “The device is call a thermostat, and its very useful.”
- Choose the correct option: The phone rang twice before ___ the office. (it call / it called / it’s called)
- What part of speech is “called” in this sentence: “It called her three times last night”?
- Which word shows possession — its or it’s?
- Fill in the blank: This dish ____ paella. (is called / its called)
- Correct the sentence: “Its’ called a violin, and I love it’s sound.”
Quiz Answers and Explanations
- b) It’s called a bicycle. “It’s” replaces “it is,” which fits the naming sentence.
- its. The post belongs to the cat, so this is possessive — no apostrophe.
- “The device is called a thermostat, and it’s very useful.” “Is call” needed the past participle “called,” and “its” needed to become the contraction “it’s” (“it is very useful”).
- it called. The phone is performing the action, not being named.
- Verb — the past tense of “call.”
- its. “It’s” is always a contraction, never a possessive.
- is called. This introduces the name of the dish.
- “It’s called a violin, and I love its sound.” “Its'” isn’t a word, and the second blank shows possession (the violin’s sound), so it needs “its” with no apostrophe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “its called” ever correct?
No. “Its called” is not a valid phrase in any context. If you’re naming something, the correct form is always “it’s called,” with the apostrophe.
What’s the difference between “it’s called” and “it is called”?
There’s no difference in meaning — “it’s called” is simply the contracted, more conversational version of “it is called.” Both are grammatically correct; the choice comes down to formality.
When should I use “it called” instead of “it’s called”?
Use “it called” only when “it” is the subject actively performing the action of calling, such as a phone, system, or animal — not when you’re naming or labeling something.
Why do people confuse “its” and “it’s” so often?
The two words are homophones, so they sound identical in speech. The confusion is purely visual and happens most often in fast typing, since autocorrect doesn’t always catch the difference.
Can I use “it’s called” in formal or academic writing?
Yes, though some formal style guides prefer to avoid contractions altogether. In that case, “it is called” works as the fully expanded equivalent with no change in meaning.
How can I quickly check which form to use?
Try replacing the word with “it is” or “it has.” If the sentence still makes sense, use “it’s.” If it doesn’t, and you’re describing something belonging to “it,” use “its” instead.
How does “it’s called” work in a question, like “What’s it called?”
“What’s it called?” is simply the question form of “it’s called,” with “what’s” itself a contraction of “what is.” Both are correct and commonly used in spoken English.
Is “its'” (apostrophe after the s) ever correct?
No. “Its'” is not a recognized word in English under any spelling convention.
Do British and American English follow different rules here?
No — both varieties treat “its called” as incorrect and follow identical rules for the contraction and the possessive. The only difference is a mild stylistic preference for “it is called” in formal British writing.
Does autocorrect cause this mistake?
It can. Some autocorrect tools swap “its” and “it’s” based on nearby words, so it’s worth double-checking either form before publishing or sending a message.
Getting “It’s Called” Right for Good
The rule comes down to one question: are you naming something, or is “it” doing something? If you’re naming something, use “it’s called,” with the apostrophe standing in for “is.” If “it” performed an action, use “it called,” with no apostrophe at all. “Its called” never fits either case — so if you catch yourself writing it, that’s the signal to slow down and add the apostrophe where it belongs.
