How to Write Better Copilot Prompts: Goal, Context, Source

The short version

A good Copilot prompt says what you want, why, from what, and in what shape. Microsoft calls these the goal, context, source and expectations. Copilot’s advantage over other chat tools is the source part: inside Microsoft 365 it can work from your own documents, emails and meetings.

Step by step

1. Start with the goal. One verb and one result: “Write a summary,” “Create a table,” “Draft a reply.”
2. Add context. Who is it for, and why do you need it? “For my manager, who missed the meeting.”
3. Name the source. Which file, email, meeting or web page should Copilot use? In Word and other Microsoft 365 apps, type / and start typing a file, email or meeting name to reference it. In Excel, name the columns.
4. Set expectations. Format, length and tone: “five bullets,” “a table,” “friendly, under 100 words.”
5. Follow up. Microsoft expects a back-and-forth. Ask for changes instead of starting over.

Prompts to copy

Goal plus source (Microsoft’s example):

Write a summary based on all emails from Sam in the past two weeks.

All four parts, at work:

Goal: Create an outline for a training manual.
Context: It's for new staff in hybrid roles who split time between home and office.
Source: Use /Onboarding checklist 2026.
Expectations: Friendly, suggestive tone. Headings and short bullets. One page.

All four parts, at home:

Plan a three-day trip to Lisbon using the flight times in the attached confirmation.
We're two adults who like walking and seafood. Show it as a table with morning, afternoon and evening.

In Excel:

Add a column that shows each region's percentage of total sales, using the Region and Sales columns.

Refine:

Good. Now make it half as long, and move the deadlines to the top.

Example

Weak: “Write about our new hours.”

Strong: “Draft a short post for our salon’s Facebook page announcing new hours starting June 1: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 to 7, closed Sunday and Monday. Friendly, two short paragraphs, end with how to book.”

The strong version gets a usable post on the first try because Copilot doesn’t have to guess any facts.

Mistakes to avoid

• Leaving out the facts. Copilot will invent plausible dates, prices or names to fill gaps.
• Not naming the source. Without it, Copilot answers from general knowledge or the web, not your file.
• Stacking five tasks in one prompt. Do them one at a time and check each.
• Accepting the first answer. Microsoft says to “review and verify responses you get from Copilot.”

Good to know

Microsoft’s guidance applies to the free Copilot app and to Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, though only some plans let Copilot read your work files. For more prompt ideas by app, see Copilot in Word and Copilot in Excel. For ChatGPT and Claude, see our ChatGPT how-tos and Claude how-tos.

Related: fact-check Copilot and how to use Microsoft Copilot.