How to Use Copilot in Word: Draft, Rewrite and Summarize

The short version

Copilot in Word does three jobs well: it starts drafts, rewrites passages and summarizes long documents. It works inside your document, can pull in your other files, and lets you approve changes before they land.

Step by step

Start a draft

1. Open a new or existing document in Word for Microsoft 365 (Windows or Mac) or Word for iPad.
2. Select the Copilot button in the corner of the document. The chat pane opens.
3. Describe the result you want: the type of document, the audience, the sections and the length.
4. Point Copilot to sources. Type / and start typing the name of a document, email or meeting to reference it.
5. Edit the draft. Treat it as a first version, not the final one.

Rewrite a passage

1. Select the text you want to improve.
2. Choose a preset such as Rewrite, or use Edit with Copilot to describe the change in your own words.
3. Compare the options and keep the one that sounds like you.

Summarize or ask questions

1. Open the chat pane in a document that already has content.
2. Ask for a summary, key takeaways, open questions or action items.
3. Choose Chat only if you want an answer without changes to the document.

Prompts to copy

A first draft (Microsoft’s example, filled in):

Draft a customer brief about our new same-day delivery service for small business owners.
Include background, benefits, risks, and next steps. About one page.

From your notes:

Turn /Meeting notes March into a one-page project update for my manager.
Use headings: What we did, What's next, Where I need help.

Tighten a section:

Make this section more concise and customer-ready without changing the meaning.

Summarize:

Summarize this document in five bullets. Then list any deadlines and who owns them.

Finish strong:

Add a short conclusion with next steps.

Example

You have: a 14-page vendor contract.

You ask (in Chat only): “What are the key points in this document? List anything about cancellation, renewal and price increases, with the section numbers.”

A good result: a short list that points to the right sections, so you can read those parts yourself. It saves time finding things. It doesn’t replace reading the clauses that matter or asking a lawyer.

Mistakes to avoid

• Asking for “a document” with no details. Say who it’s for, what it must cover and how long it should be.
• Keeping every rewrite. Presets can flatten your voice. Accept the parts that help.
• Forgetting to reference sources. Without your notes or files, Copilot fills gaps with generic text.
• Trusting summaries of important documents. Check the original for anything you’ll act on.

Good to know

Word also has a model selector: you can leave it on Auto or pick a reasoning level or provider. What you see depends on your subscription, license, organization settings and device. If Copilot isn’t there, see choose the right Copilot plan.

Related: use Copilot in PowerPoint and use Copilot in Outlook.