YNSPIRACopilot in Word
Microsoft
Copilot in Word is most useful when you want to get from a blank page to a usable first draft faster, or when you want to tidy up text you have already written. It can draft, rewrite paragraphs, summarise documents and help you structure content without doing all of it by hand.
Who has access to Copilot in Word?
Organisations with the M365 Copilot (Premium) add-on licence have access to all the functionality in Copilot in Word. We call this version Premium for the rest of this article.
Organisations on qualifying Microsoft 365 subscriptions without the Copilot Premium add-on may also have standard access to Copilot in Word. Which Copilot experience you get depends on your licence type and your organisation's settings.
What it is best at
Copilot in Word can get your writing moving. If you already have relevant notes, meeting minutes or other documents to base the file on, the result is far more useful than if you simply ask it to "write a report about X".
Another big advantage is that Copilot works inside Word. With "Edit with Copilot" it can write, restructure and format content directly in the document, instead of you copying text back and forth between Word and a separate chatbot. Choose "Edit with Copilot" to let Copilot change the file itself, rather than only suggesting new text in the chat.
This works well when you want to adjust an existing text, for example changing the tone or rewriting the document so a particular audience can follow it more easily. You can also use it to fix formatting, such as adding headings or standardising font size, colour and style.
What does not work so well
Copilot in Word rarely writes finished text you can send on without editing. The most common weakness is that the text comes out a little general, a little too smooth, and not quite how you would have put it yourself. Give it little context and the result gets generic fast.
It is also better at helping with first drafts and rewriting than at doing advanced thinking for you. If you need a clear professional judgement or a strong personal voice, you still have to do much of the work yourself.
Who is it for?
Copilot in Word works best for people who spend a fair amount of time in Word. The biggest advantage is that it can edit directly in the document. You avoid copying and pasting between windows.
How to use it
Open a document in Word and click the Copilot icon to open the side panel. In an empty document, describe what you want to create and reference existing files with "/" to give Copilot the context it needs.
Choose "Edit with Copilot" if you want to let Copilot make changes directly in an existing document, rather than only suggesting text in the chat.
You can also select the relevant text directly in the document instead of using the Copilot chat in the right hand panel. That way you work specifically on the text you selected, rather than letting Copilot edit across the whole document.
Features
Draft generation
Create first drafts from a topic, an audience or an existing document.
Document summaries
Summarise long documents with key points and action points.
Edit mode
Copilot can edit existing documents, for example adding sections, updating text, changing formatting and restructuring. ("Edit with Copilot")
File references
With the right licence and setup, Copilot can pull relevant context from documents, email and meetings you have access to.
Rewriting
Copilot can help you change tone or length, or adapt the text for a particular audience.
Does your team need training in Copilot?
We run tailored courses and workshops in Copilot, adapted to your business and your working day.
Tips for good use
- Give Copilot something to work with. A few notes, an earlier document or relevant meeting notes produce a better result than a general prompt like "write a report about X".
- Use the / command to reference files from OneDrive or SharePoint. Copilot then builds on existing content.
- Choose "Edit with Copilot" if you want Copilot to make changes directly in an existing document.
- Use Copilot as a thinking partner, not just a writing assistant. It can look for unclear passages, weak structure or missing information before you send the document on.
- Always read through and make the adjustments you need. Copilot can save you a lot of writing, but you are still responsible for the facts, the judgements and the final wording.
Available on
Links and pricing
Available on qualifying Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Premium requires a separate Microsoft Copilot add-on licence. ($30 per user/month)
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