How to Use Copilot in Word

What Do You Need Before Starting?

• A Microsoft 365 Copilot license (business, ~$41 CAD/user/month) or Copilot Pro (personal). Plan comparison in our Copilot pricing guide.
• Word for Windows, Mac, or Word on the web, signed into the account that holds the license.
• If the icon is missing or greyed out: check File → Account for the right identity, update Office, and confirm your admin assigned the license.

How Do You Draft a Document From Scratch?

1. Open a blank document — the Draft with Copilot prompt appears automatically (or click the ribbon icon).
2. Write a real brief, not a topic: "A one-page proposal for janitorial services for a 40,000 sq ft office, professional tone, sections for scope, schedule, and pricing placeholders."
3. Reference your own files with /filename so the draft pulls from existing content — past proposals, reports, notes.
4. Choose Keep it, Regenerate, or type an adjustment ("add a testimonials section"). Then edit as you would any draft.

How Do You Rewrite Existing Text?

1. Select the paragraph or section, then click the Copilot icon in the left margin.
2. Choose Auto Rewrite for alternatives, or give a directive: "half the length," "plainer language," "more confident."
3. Cycle the options and Replace or Insert below. The same menu converts selected text into a table.

How Do You Summarize or Question a Document?

Open the Copilot chat pane from the ribbon and ask directly: "summarize this document in five bullets," "list every deadline and who owns it," "what are the termination conditions in this contract?" Answers carry citations that jump to the source passage — verify anything contractual against the cited text before acting on it.