Craft effective prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft Learn
Last updated October 14, 2024
A practical, four-module path on getting better results from Microsoft 365 Copilot by writing better prompts. The focus is the anatomy of a useful instruction — a clear goal, the right context, a source to work from, and a stated expectation for the output — applied to everyday work across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, and Chat. Each module is built around a real task: summarizing and simplifying dense information, drafting and brainstorming from scratch, editing and rewriting existing content, and asking questions to analyze material. Roughly two hours and ten minutes of self-paced learning.
What you'll learn
- The four building blocks of an effective prompt: goal, context, source, and expectation
- Summarizing, simplifying, and visualizing complex information across Microsoft 365 apps
- Drafting new content and brainstorming ideas with Copilot in Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook
- Editing, rewriting, and transforming existing content
- Asking questions and analyzing content to surface recommendations and fresh ideas
Frequently asked questions about Craft effective prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot
Who is Craft effective prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot for?
Business users who already have Microsoft 365 Copilot and want a reliable method for prompting it well across their daily apps.
Is Craft effective prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot free?
Yes — Craft effective prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot is completely free to take.
What are the prerequisites for Craft effective prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Recommended prior learning: Fundamentals of Generative AI, and Get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot. No coding required.
Why we suggest this course
For Microsoft 365 users who already have Copilot and want to stop getting generic answers, this path turns prompting from guesswork into a repeatable habit. It teaches a simple structure you can reuse on any task rather than a list of prompts to copy, and it grounds every lesson in the specific apps people actually work in. One thing to know: it is positioned as a follow-on, not a first step — the page lists "Fundamentals of Generative AI" and "Get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot" as expected prior learning, so it assumes you already know what Copilot is and how to open it.