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expressions - "Named" vs "called"


Over on Stackoverflow, I keep seeing questions wherein posters say:


*I have an item named SoAndSo (a table, a file, etc.).


Shouldn't it be:


*I have an item called SoAndSo.


Is "named" an acceptable word in this context? Are those words specific to a particular English speakers, e.g. UK vs. USA vs. Australia, etc.?



Answer



If the name of the item is indeed SoAndSo, then it is reasonable and correct to refer to it as an “item named SoAndSo”. If in addition to being named SoAndSo it usually is called SoAndSo, it still is ok to refer to it as an item named SoAndSo (and also would be ok to refer to it as an item called SoAndSo).


But if, although usually called SoAndSo, it actually has some name other than that, then it would be incorrect to refer to it as an “item named SoAndSo”.


Some further examples appear in answers to “Don’t know what the name is” vs. “Don’t know what it’s called”.


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