Citizenship · Civics Vocabulary

Which is the correct spelling: 'The U.S. has 100 [Senaters / Senators / Senotors] in Congress.'

Correct answer

Senators

  1. A Senaters
  2. B Senators
  3. C Senotors
  4. D Senatoors

Why this is the answer

SENATORS is on the USCIS WRITING VOCABULARY list under CIVICS. Correct spelling: 'S-E-N-A-T-O-R-S.' The ending is '-ators' (a-t-o-r-s), NOT '-aters' (no 'e'). Note: many English nouns ending in 'or' (senator, actor, doctor) are commonly misspelled with 'er' (sometimes correct for some words but not these). Common dictation sentences using 'Senators': 'There are 100 Senators in Congress.' 'States have Senators.' 'Senators meet in the Senate.' 'The President meets with Senators.' CAPITALIZE 'Senators' when referring to U.S. Senators as a specific group (though casual usage may not always capitalize — the USCIS list shows it capitalized). Other CIVICS VOCABULARY on the USCIS writing test: AMERICAN INDIANS (A-m-e-r-i-c-a-n I-n-d-i-a-n-s); CAPITAL (C-a-p-i-t-a-l — for the city; CAPITOL is the building, different spelling); CITIZENS (C-i-t-i-z-e-n-s); CIVIL WAR (C-i-v-i-l W-a-r); CONGRESS (C-o-n-g-r-e-s-s — two S's at end); COUNTRY (C-o-u-n-t-r-y); FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY (capitalize: F-a-t-h-e-r O-f O-u-r C-o-u-n-t-r-y, all capitalized as a title); FLAG; FREE; FREEDOM OF SPEECH; PRESIDENT; RIGHT; SENATORS; STATE/STATES; UNITED STATES; WHITE HOUSE. Spell each word out repeatedly until you can write it from memory.
Source: USCIS Writing Vocabulary — Senators