How to use Copilot in Microsoft Word

What can Copilot in Microsoft Word help you do?

Thanks to its integration in Microsoft Word, Copilot can access any files you choose, analyze them, and help you create and edit content for personal or professional use. But Copilot isn’t limited to working with existing content. Based on your prompts, Copilot can help produce content like recipes, shopping lists, outlines for a term paper, and more. Think of Copilot as a partner to help you become a better writer in real time. The naming was intentional, after all.

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Create content

Move forward in your writing with help from Copilot in Microsoft Word. Select the Copilot icon or CTRL+I to describe the sort of content you’d like to draft with Copilot. It could be a single sentence that serves as a jumping off point to get your creative juices flowing or a complex request for an outline with referenced files and citations. Try prompts like these to get started with Copilot in Microsoft Word:

• Write an outline for an essay about the dangers of global warming.
• Provide a writing prompt for a short story about family dynamics.
• Write a letter thanking the CEO of a company for taking a meeting with me.
• Generate ideas for a poem about spiders and deceit.

If the content that Copilot in Word generates for you isn’t quite what you’re looking for, discard it entirely and direct Copilot to provide a new version of the text or adjust your initial prompt for a different outcome altogether with prompts like these:

• Write an outline for an essay about the dangers of global warming and how temperatures have changed over the past 50 years.
• Writing a letter thanking the CEO of a company for taking a meeting with me. Propose a second meeting to discuss the possibility of our companies working together.

Edit content

Finding the right words isn’t always easy. Thankfully, you’re not alone in your writing endeavors. Use Copilot in Word to transform and elevate your writing. At the very least, it’ll give you another option to consider, and at the best, it will give you the exact words you need. Try prompts like these to get Copilot in Word to adjust existing content:

• Rewrite the highlighted paragraph so it’s more concise.
• Scan this entire document and provide specific examples of what can be improved in terms of sentence structure, vocabulary, and filler words.
• Create two additional variations of the last paragraph.
• What’s another way to say ____?

Analyze and summarize content

In addition to drafting content, Copilot in Microsoft Word can analyze and summarize. Whether you’re reading a handbook, acting as an editor, or parsing someone else’s research, a long document might feel a little overwhelming at first. Thankfully, Copilot in Word helps by locating important stats and summing up long blocks of text. Try prompts like these:

• Generate a summary of the document that is no longer then three sentences.
• What are the key takeaways from this scientific study?
• Explain the highlighted paragraph in easy-to-understand words instead of scientific jargon.

The more specific you are with your prompts, the more specific the answer you’ll receive. If you’re reviewing a lengthy document before you present it at school or work, you might want to ask for analysis that suits your specific needs:

• I need to share the main points of this study with decision-makers at work. Summarize the main points and explain why they’re important in laymen’s terms.
• What does the employee handbook document say about maternity leave and paternity leave?

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Create templates

Whether you’re putting together a resume and cover letter for a new job, submitting a proposal at work, or creating a document that will help you stay on top of family birthdays, Copilot in Microsoft Word can help. Creating a template can be a huge time-saver, especially if you frequently work in documents that require specific formatting. Prompt Copilot in Word to set up a template that’s tailored to your specific needs:

• Create a template for a resume with sections for relevant skills, job history, education, and a personal objective.
• Generate a template for a project proposal with sections for objectives, deliverables, budget, and timeline.

Unlock the power of AI in Word. Generate ideas, rewrite and analyze text, ask questions, and more with Copilot in Microsoft Word.