A simple way to write.
SimpleWriter v1 is a completely free writing tool designed for use in educational institutions where spelling and grammar tools are not permitted during writing.
A Simple Writing Tool — Without Spelling or Grammar Assistance
SimpleWriter v1 is a lightweight writing application designed for situations where students need access to a basic word processor but are not permitted to use spelling, grammar, predictive text, rewriting, or other writing-assistance tools.
It provides the essential features needed to create, format, save, open, and print documents without introducing tools that could assist with the mechanics of writing.
SimpleWriter is particularly well suited to tests, exams, assessments, classrooms, accessibility settings, and other controlled writing environments where students need a familiar digital writing space without automated language support.
Writing Without Writing Assistance
Many modern word processors include built-in spelling correction, grammar suggestions, predictive text, rewriting tools, and increasingly, artificial intelligence features. Even when some of these options can be disabled, it may not always be obvious which writing-assistance features remain available.
SimpleWriter takes a different approach.
Its purpose is intentionally limited: provide the tools needed to write and format a document — and nothing that helps compose or correct the writing itself.
SimpleWriter does not provide:
- Spell-check suggestions
- Grammar checking or correction
- Autocorrect
- Predictive text
- Sentence completion
- Rewriting tools
- Thesaurus or synonym suggestions
- AI writing assistance
The application is designed so that the student remains responsible for the words that appear on the page.
Familiar, Straightforward Writing
SimpleWriter uses a clean, traditional desktop interface that will feel familiar to anyone who has used a basic Windows text editor.
Students can concentrate on writing without navigating complex ribbons, online services, collaboration tools, or unnecessary features.
The toolbar provides quick access to the most commonly needed controls, including:
- New, Open, Save, and Print
- Font selection
- Font size
- Bold, Italic, and Underline
- Text colour
- Normal text and heading styles
- Left, centre, and right alignment
- Bulleted lists
The goal is to provide enough formatting capability for everyday writing while keeping the application simple and predictable.
RTF and Plain Text Documents
SimpleWriter supports both Rich Text Format (.rtf) and plain text (.txt) documents.
RTF documents can include formatting such as fonts, headings, bold text, alignment, and lists while remaining compatible with many other Windows writing applications.
Documents created in SimpleWriter can therefore be opened later in other applications that support RTF.
Live Word Count
A simple word counter is displayed at the bottom of the SimpleWriter window and updates as the student writes.
For example:
Words: 742
This gives students useful information about the length of their work without providing any assistance with the content itself.
Page Count and Standard Page Sizes
SimpleWriter can also estimate the number of formatted pages in the document.
Unlike a simple calculation based on the number of words, SimpleWriter considers the actual formatted layout of the document, including font size, headings, and text wrapping.
The current page count is displayed in the status bar:
Pages: 3 (Letter)
SimpleWriter supports common page sizes including:
- Letter — 8.5 × 11 inches
- Legal — 8.5 × 14 inches
- A4 — 210 × 297 mm
This can be particularly useful when an assignment or assessment has a page-length requirement.
Visual Page Boundaries
SimpleWriter provides a visual indication of where one page ends and the next begins.
A subtle, non-printing divider appears within the editor and identifies the beginning of the next page.
Page 2
These markers are for the writer’s reference only. They are not added to the saved document and do not appear when the document is printed.
This provides some of the visual awareness of a paged word processor while keeping the editing environment lightweight.
Save, Open, and Print
SimpleWriter includes the basic document functions students need:
- Create a new document
- Open an existing document
- Save work as RTF or TXT
- Save under a different filename
- Print documents
- Continue editing previously saved work
There is no requirement to sign in to an account, connect to a cloud service, or use an online document platform.
A Practical Replacement for a Classic Basic Windows Editor
As Windows has evolved, many simple desktop writing applications have disappeared or have been replaced by increasingly feature-rich tools.
SimpleWriter is intended to fill that gap.
It offers the familiar experience of a traditional lightweight Windows rich-text editor: open the program, start typing, format the document if needed, save it, and print it.
There are no collaboration systems, templates, cloud accounts, writing coaches, or AI assistants competing for attention.
For organizations that previously relied on a basic Windows rich-text editor for controlled writing environments, SimpleWriter provides a modern alternative designed specifically around that need.
Designed for Controlled Writing Environments
SimpleWriter may be useful in situations such as:
- Tests and examinations
- Accommodated assessments
- Accessibility and assistive technology labs
- Testing centres
- Computer labs
- Classroom writing activities
- Skills assessments
- Situations where spelling and grammar assistance are not permitted
Because SimpleWriter provides formatting and document-management tools without automated writing assistance, it can offer a useful middle ground between a basic plain-text editor and a full-featured modern word processor.
Writing Assistance: Disabled
SimpleWriter makes its intended behaviour visible directly in the application.
The status bar displays:
Writing assistance: DISABLED
This helps students, instructors, proctors, and support staff quickly understand the purpose of the software.
SimpleWriter is designed to provide a place to write — not help decide what to write or how to spell it.
SimpleWriter v1
Simple writing. Essential formatting. No writing assistance.
SimpleWriter v1 is a standalone Windows application designed for Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Copyright Ronald G Leblanc