If you can call it that vs So-called

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

If you can call it that

Informal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

So-called

Top 3,000 (common) B2 adjective

Most formal: So-called Most common: So-called

	If you can call it that	So-called
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ɪf juː kæn kɔːl ɪt ðæt// 🇺🇸 //ɪf ju kæn kɔl ɪt ðæt//	🇬🇧 /["/ˌsəʊ ˈkɔːld/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˌsəʊ ˈkɔːld/"]/
Meaning	Used to express doubt about a name or description.	What people call something, even if it's not really that.
Example	He built a chair, if you can call it that, but it wobbles terribly.	the opinion of a so-called ‘expert’
Register	Informal	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	B2
Part of speech		adjective
Collocations	if you can call it that, it's a, what he calls	so-called expert, so-called problem, so-called leader
Antonyms	-	genuine, authentic, real
Common mistakes	Using it in formal writing context., Confusing with similar phrases like 'if you want to call it that'., Not using it when sarcasm is implied.	Confusing 'so-called' with 'so call', Using 'so-called' without a following noun, Overusing 'so-called' in formal contexts
Usage notes	Often used in casual conversation to downplay the value or quality of something referred to. Best avoided in very formal writing.	Use 'so-called' to describe something that is named or labeled in a certain way, often implying doubt about the name's accuracy. Avoid in very formal writing.

See it in real clips

Sherlock › S1 E1

Yeah, if you can call it that.

If you can call it that

Frequently asked questions: If you can call it that vs So-called

What's the difference between If you can call it that and So-called?

If you can call it that: Used to express doubt about a name or description. So-called: What people call something, even if it's not really that.

Which is more formal: If you can call it that and So-called?

So-called is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: If you can call it that and So-called?

So-called is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

If you can call it that: He built a chair, if you can call it that, but it wobbles terribly. So-called: the opinion of a so-called ‘expert’

Can I use If you can call it that and So-called interchangeably?

Not always. If you can call it that and So-called are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.