To send a standard text rather than a message through Messages/iMessage on a per-message basis, just do the following on your iPhone:
Tap and hold on the message you want to send as a text. From the pop-up menu, select "Send as Text Message".
Note: Sending a message to a non-Apple device will always be sent as a text, at least unless the other user has an Apple messages compatible app running (unlikely as of 2023).
My latest blog post: Think for Yourself: In the end, everything is just an opinion. Be skeptical, and think for yourself! (posted 2026-04-25).