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Prompting in Copilot

Table of Contents

  1. Tell Copilot What You Need
  2. Include Prompt Components
  3. Keep the Conversation Going
  4. Limitations and Helpful Hints to Keep In Mind
  5. Do's and Don't of Prompting

Learning how to prompt your Copilot assistant will be the hardest part of learning how to use Copilot. It will take you time and experience. This document will guide you through best practices on how to prompt, but you will find what works for you as you work with the assistant.

These recommendation are made by microsoft. If you would like a pdf version of this content you can download it from The Art and Science of Prompting. Please keep in mind that it may not be fully accessible as it is a pdf hosted at Microsoft.

Tell Copilot What You Need

Try telling Copilot exactly what you need. You can ask to learn about a document, edit content, transform your content, summarize information, create new engaging content and catch up on missed conversations. Some sample prompts (which would change depending upon your content and application):

  • What is [project name] and who are the key members?
  • Check this marketing flyer for inconsistencies
  • Transform this bulleted list into a powerpoint presentation
  • Create a value proposition for [product name]
  • Summarize the chat and tell me if I missed anything pertaining to me

Include Prompt Components

As you create your prompts there are 4 main components you want to try to include whenever possible. Remember, the more information you provide your assistant the better they can meet your request.

  • Goal
  • Context
  • Source
  • Expectations

Goal - What response do you want from Copilot?

Context - Why do you need it and who is involved?

Source - Which information sources or samples should Copilot use?

Expectations - How should Copilot respond to best meet your expectations?

Here is a sample prompt from Microsoft. I have separated out how the prompt meets all four components.

Generate 3-5 bullet points (Goal) to prepare me for a meeting with Client X to discuss their "Phase 3+" branding campaign (Context). Focus on Email and Teams chats since June (Source). Please use simple language so I can get up to speed quickly (Expectations).

Keep the Conversation Going

Follow up on your first prompt with additional information and requests.

Lead with broader questions and provide specific details in follow up prompts. Request meeting recaps and action item lists. Ask follow up questions after a summary request to gain a deeper understanding. Copilot can transcribe your information into one of the many supported languages where you can then ask for more context or regional dialect. Copilot can even help solve technical problems by narrowing down results or providing step by step guidance. And if you can't figure out how to do something...ask Copilot!

Limitations and Helpful Hints to Keep In Mind

  • Copilot is limited to your current conversation so provide as much detail as you can.
  • Use quotation marks. This helps Copilot know what to write, modify, or replace for you.
  • Be professional and use polite language, this improves Copilot's repsponse.
  • Start fresh. Avoid interrupting Copilot and type "new topic" if you need to switch tasks.
  • Communicate clearly, avoid texting lingo. Use proper punctuation, grammar and capitalization.
  • Keep in mind this is still in development at Microsoft, and as such, things can change or evolve.

Do's and Don't of Prompting

Do
  • Be clear and specific
    • Provide specific instructions to Copilot, such as topic, purpose, tone, and required length.
  • Keep it conversational
    • Give feedback to Copilot based on the quality of its responses to help the AI learn and match your preferences.
  • Give examples
    • Use clear and specific keywords or phrases when asking Copilot to write a piece of text for you. This helps it generate more relevant and creative copy
  • Ask for feedback
    • Requesting feedback from Copilot helps it to understand your needs and preferences, and to provide you with more relevant, helpful responses.
  • Write legibly
    • Use correct punctuation, capitalization, and grammar when writing prompts, as this will help the AI produce better quality text and responses.
  • Check for accuracy
    • Occasionally, Copilot may make mistakes. Always check Copilot’s responses for accuracy, grammar, and style, and watch out for irrelevant or inappropriate content.
  • Provide details
    • Provide Copilot with contextual details to help it generate more accurate, consistent responses. For example, the genre, characters, and plot to a story.
  • Be polite
    • Using kind and respectful language when chatting with Copilot helps foster collaboration and improves the AI's responsiveness and performance.
Don't
  • Be vague
    • When prompting Copilot, avoid using vague language, and be as clear as possible to receive better-quality responses.
  • Request inappropriate or unethical content
    • Copilot is not responsible for the content or the consequences of your writing. You should respect local laws, rules, and the rights of others.
  • Use slang, jargon, or informal language
    • This may cause Copilot to give low-quality, inappropriate or unprofessional responses.
  • Give conflicting instructions
    • Prompting Copilot to perform a task that includes multiple or conflicting pieces of information in the same request can confuse the AI and result in lower quality responses.
  • Interrupt or change topics abruptly
    • This could disrupt Copilot’s writing process. Always close or finish a task before starting a new one. When starting a new task, write “New task.”

Last modified: Aug 6, 2025