otherwise called

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "otherwise called" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce an alternative name or term for something previously mentioned. Example: "The phenomenon, otherwise called a 'supermoon,' occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The so-called 'Trojan horse' peptides are regions within proteins, otherwise called protein-transduction domains (PTDs) or cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which have the ability to traverse biological membranes efficiently including the blood brain barrier [ 22- 24], in a temperature-, receptor- and transporter-independent fashion.

BMC Cancer

Iraq is ancient Mesopotamia, otherwise called the "cradle of civilisation".

The Guardian - Arts

It is otherwise called squeeze forming, liquid forging, liquid pressing, extrusion casting, liquid metal stamping, pressure crystallization and corthias casting.

Journal of Materials Processing Technology

He's about to embark on a three year voyage into the semi-unknown, otherwise called university.

The Guardian

The letter was really his thoughts on copyright protection, otherwise called digital rights management, or D.R.M.

The New York Times

Poetic licence Damian McBride's email description of what is otherwise called "making things up".

The Guardian

In the northern part of this bay lies the Island of Chernaboura ("black-brown"), otherwise called Augustin Island.

Nature

We study the properties of small regulatory networks treated as non-autonomous dynamical systems, otherwise called modules when working inside larger networks.

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals

The process of artificial biocalcification of sand through ureolysis, otherwise called biocementation can be performed with use of some microorganisms such as, for example Sporosarcina pasteurii (former Bacillus pasteurii).

Procedia Manufacturing

Nowadays approximation models, otherwise called as Surrogate Models (SM), are more widely employed in order to reduce the requirement of computational resources and time in analysing various engineering systems.

Procedia Engineering

The Bonaparte's Parakeet for many decades was classified as a subspecies of the Painted Parakeet (Pyrrhura picta), although some authors had suggested that brown headed lucianii was the immature plumage of the red-headed taxon otherwise called roseifrons.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the alternative name or term introduced by "otherwise called" is genuinely synonymous or closely related to the original term.

Common error

Avoid using "otherwise called" to introduce terms that are only tangentially related or that represent a broader category rather than a direct synonym. Ensure the alternative term is a valid and recognized equivalent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "otherwise called" functions as an appositive marker, introducing an alternative name or description for a previously mentioned noun or concept. Ludwig AI confirms its role in providing clarification or synonymy, as seen in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

34%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "otherwise called" serves as a linguistic tool to introduce an alternative designation for something already mentioned, promoting clarity and understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in scientific, academic, and news-related contexts. While alternatives such as "also known as" exist, "otherwise called" often implies that the subsequent term is less common or more technical. Writers should ensure the alternative term is a true synonym to avoid miscommunication, with this practice helping create content that is both accurate and informative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

also known as

This alternative is more widely recognized and used in formal and informal contexts.

referred to as

This alternative is a common and versatile way to introduce an alternative name or description.

alternatively termed

This alternative provides a slightly more formal tone, suitable for academic or technical writing.

also termed

This alternative is a slightly more concise and formal way of indicating an alternative name.

also designated as

This alternative is used when referring to something with a specific, often official, designation.

by another name

This alternative is slightly more informal and can add a touch of variety to writing.

namely

This alternative is used to specify or identify something more precisely.

in other words

This alternative is used to clarify or rephrase a concept, not necessarily an alternative name.

that is to say

This alternative is used to provide a more precise or explanatory restatement.

which is to say

This alternative introduces a clarification or explanation of a previous statement.

FAQs

How do I use "otherwise called" in a sentence?

Use "otherwise called" to introduce an alternative name or term for something you've already mentioned. For instance, "The process of artificial biocalcification of sand through ureolysis, "biocementation", can be performed with some microorganisms".

What can I say instead of "otherwise called"?

You can use alternatives like "also known as", "alternatively termed", or "referred to as" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "otherwise called" and "also known as"?

While both introduce alternative names, "otherwise called" might suggest the following term is less common or more specific than the original, whereas "also known as" implies both terms are relatively well-known.

Can "otherwise called" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "otherwise called" is suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific or technical contexts where clarifying terminology is important. However, consider "alternatively termed" for an even more formal tone.