How to stop Apple Notes changing names into @name mentions (MacOS)

Whenever I write contact names in an Apple Note on MacOS, it autocorrects the name into a @mention. Only pressing "Esc" stops this.

Example:

• I want to write "John Doe", start with "John"
• It automatically turns into "@John Doe" offering to mention the contact ... need to press ESC
• Even worse: Whenever I get the cursor behind some "John Doe" in the text - @mention prompt popping up .. only "ESC" lets me continue

How can I teach Apple Notes to let me simply type whichever name without interrupting my flow?

Many thanks,

Peter.