S

schoolchildren

One word.

schoolwork

One word.

scripture, the scriptures, scriptural

Lower case s..group e.g. Namatua Self-help Group.

semicolons

Semicolons are not interchangeable with commas or full stops.

Semicolons can be used to join two related, but independent, clauses. Both clauses before and after the semi-colon should form a complete sentence. Don't use a conjunction (e.g. and or but) after the semicolon. Don't capitalise the word after the semicolon, unless it is a proper noun. E.g. Leprosy is a disease of poverty; it thrives in areas where there is poor sanitation, and overcrowding.

Semicolons are also used in lists if the items contain internal punctuation. For the final item in the list, you should use 'and' after the semicolon.

Yes: the project took place in Chanchaga, Nigeria; Cabo Delgado, Mozambique; and Salur, India.
No: the project took place in Chanchaga, Nigeria, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, and Salur, India.
Yes: the project was a collaboration between TLM Northern Ireland, TLM England and Wales, and TLM Netherlands
No: the project was a collaboration between TLM Northern Ireland; TLM England and Wales; and TLM Netherlands

South Asia

Note capitals.

South-East Asia

Note capitals and hyphen.

south/South, southern/Southern etc

Names of areas are capitalised if they are part of the title of a recognised geographical area or political division (e.g. South Korea). They are not capitalised if are descriptions in general terms (e.g. southern Scotland, south Birmingham).

statistics

Provide sources only when stats are considered doubtful/likely to prompt inquiry. Sourcing all stats is unnecessary and requires clumsy footnotes. An exception is more academic copy, or where a particular audience would expect full references.