called

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'called' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word 'called' to talk about a name, a title, a meeting, or an event that has already been decided or declared. For example, "The meeting will be called 'The Quarterly Review'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What is it called?

The New York Times

Nazarbayev permitted a relatively high degree of political activity until the emergence of a reform movement called Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, backed by several wealthy business people, in late 2001.

The Guardian

Clarke called on pro-Europeans to make the case for the EU more effectively as he called for the fulfilment of Margaret Thatcher's two key European ambitions – completing the single market and expanding the EU by admitting Turkey.

The Guardian

The actor replies: "Do you know how many times the cops have been called just because we're black?

The Guardian - Film

"I climbed on to the balcony and then I called the police.

The Guardian

The first minister has called for an emergency debate on the issue in the Northern Ireland assembly on Friday.

The Guardian

She called him Pik, Pikus, Pipik; he called her maman, Madka, little Mamus.

The Economist

Her family called her a "tenacious deal maker" and a "competitor".

The Guardian

A friend of mine runs a website in Amsterdam, which is called, in Dutch, We Are Here to Stay.

The Guardian

She won for what the Nobel committee called her "heroic struggle" for girls' right to an education.

The Guardian

Some both within and without Northern Ireland have called for a comprehensive, wide-ranging international inquiry into the dirty war.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "called" to refer to a name or title, ensure it accurately reflects the subject's identity or function. For example, "The project is called 'Innovation Hub'."

Common error

Avoid using "called" when referring to future events that have not yet been named or summoned. Use future tense verbs instead. For example, instead of "The meeting will be called tomorrow", use "The meeting will be scheduled tomorrow".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "called" is a verb in the past tense or past participle form. It is used to indicate the action of naming, summoning, or describing something or someone. Ludwig AI shows examples of its usage in naming events or describing attributes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "called" is a versatile verb form, commonly used to indicate naming, summoning, or describing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, highlighting its neutral register. When writing, ensure correct tense usage to avoid common errors. Consider alternatives like "named" or "referred to as" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

named

Replaces "called" to indicate the act of assigning a name.

known as

Highlights the familiarity or common knowledge of a name or title.

referred to as

Offers a more descriptive alternative when specifying how something is referenced.

labeled

Focuses on the act of assigning a label to something.

identified as

Used when specifying how someone or something is recognized.

summoned

Replaces "called" in the context of summoning or requesting someone's presence.

dubbed

Implies a more informal or creative naming, often used in media.

designated

Indicates that something has been officially assigned a particular role or purpose.

appointed

Indicates the assignment of someone to a specific position.

termed

A more formal synonym for "called", often used in academic or technical contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "called" in a sentence?

You can use "called" to indicate the name of something, like "The event is "called Summer Festival"", or to describe someone being summoned, as in "He was "called to the office"".

What are some alternatives to "called" when naming something?

Alternatives include "named", "referred to as", or "known as", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "The event is being called off"?

Yes, "being called off" is a correct and common way to say that an event is being canceled or postponed.

What's the difference between "called" and "appointed"?

"Called" is a general term for naming or summoning, while "appointed" specifically refers to assigning someone to a position or role. For example, "She was "called" to testify" versus "She was "appointed" as director".