Notepad autocorrected what I was typing for my foreign language exercise

Install a VM. Use windows to boot linux.

Notepad++
- +1 for ++
  
  When did they release Notepad+++?

TIL notepad has spell check.

the new app-flavoured notepad sucks.
go into its settings, turn off everything.

Notepad is little more than a wrapper around Microsoft's text box control (and I suppose some AI API these days). It's not part of notepad, it's part of Windows itself. A great feature for most users, in my opinion.
The corrective part is in Settings > Time & Language > Typing > Highlight/Autocorrect misspelled words. You can download an alternative to Notepad and hope that it doesn't integrate with the spelling API, but any update to that software might bring back autocorrect.
You might want to leave the highlight feature on so you get instant feedback on what words you misspell.
As for learning a language, there is scientific evidence that information sticks better in your brain when writing down things on physical paper than when typing. If you're learning a language through random exercise, you might want to consider going back to pens & paper.
- That study is for notetaking though, as you copy verbatim when typing but more concisely when writing, making you process the information and not just the words.
  When you're doing something that requires thought anyway, you're already processing the information so they're equally good?

Work pc so I can't just change to linux unfortunately
WSL?

Just turn the setting off..? Why does Linux need to be brought up?
- People on Linux are used to things just working I guess.
  
  Having QoL features that 95% of people need and use is considered “not working” now? A larger percentage of people would say a text program without a spellcheck or auto correct would be broken.
  This Linux circle jerking on Lemmy has gotten beyond exhausting. Options exist for everyone’s preference, it’s not broken because it’s defaulted on and you’re too stupid/ignorant to change a setting.
- Because every conversation on here that involves Windows will ALWAYS end up with someone saying, "Use Linux".
  
  And that’s an issue, it prevents all productive discussion on a topic. You’re not going to get more users when it’s known echo chambers.
  Should be treated as trolling when it’s used to derail topics, which is what it is.
- I knew half of the answers would be "just use linux"
  
  This is fair and warranted.
  Also, to be fair, Windows is a trash-tier piece of software that become little but adware/spyware in a trenchcoat, masquerading as an operating system. I ran an install in a VM a couple of weeks ago for the first time in nearly two decades and even the basic installation process is on par with the WinXP alpha (before the installer was ready), requiring extra driver disks and software just to be able to think about installing. I had to fight with UEFI and Grub to get Arch to boot alongside Fedora the other day and that was a much more enjoyable process.
  
  "Ju u- Lin"
  A bit less that half reply
  /s
  Let's discuss instead why would be good to replace such a solid and no frills tool like notepad at all?
  So that people can just shit on windows... Would that be better than use Linux?
- Welcome to Lemmy, also known as "reddit for communists and people with a favorite Linux distro"!
  Any comment regarding Windows or macOS will inevitably bring out the Linux fanboys. Even as someone who runs Linux everywhere I can, it's kind of exhausting.

I hate autocorrect in general. It doesn't understand the concept of multiple languages in the same text, it doesn't understand dialects and sometimes it even tries to correct words that are written correctly. One of the first things I turn off on every new device
- One of the first things I turn off on every new device
  I would love to turn it off on everything, but on-screen keyboards are almost entirely useless without it.
  I miss my SGH-T699 "Relay", and its 5-row slider. It's the only phone I've bought more than once; I wore out three of them.
- They have a library you can edit, they’re meant for the masses, and you can obviously customize it to your exact preferences.

If Notepad++ is a bit too much for what you are looking for You could try Notepad3
https://rizonesoft.com/downloads/notepad3/
It has less features than Notepad++ but has a very similar feel to the old windows notepad with a lot of extra features.
Good luck with your search.

Will it let you install a virtual machine? 🤔
https://www.oracle.com/cloud/compute/virtual-machines/what-is-virtual-machine/free-virtual-machine/