5 Ways to Use Copilot In Word to Make Your Life More Productive

In this training session from Pragmatic Works, Brian Knight demonstrates how Microsoft Copilot in Word—powered by ChatGPT—can significantly enhance productivity. Integrated into Microsoft 365, Copilot offers powerful features that make document creation and editing faster and more intuitive. Here are five practical ways Copilot can simplify your workflow in Microsoft Word.

1. Instantly Summarize Long Documents

• Copilot can analyze extensive documents (like a 15-page list of Dynamics 365 fixes) and generate a concise summary.
• Users can prompt Copilot to summarize in different formats—such as bullet points or brief paragraphs—based on their preferences.
• Being specific with your prompts leads to more accurate and useful summaries.

2. Generate Structured Content from Scratch

• Brian illustrates how to prompt Copilot to build a full agenda for an Adobe Photoshop class targeted at teenagers.
• By specifying the course length and audience, Copilot creates a detailed module breakdown with allocated time slots.
• Users can refine the output with follow-up commands such as “make it more formal” or “describe each module in detail.”

3. Create Documents Based on Existing Files

• Copilot allows users to generate new documents using content from existing PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, or Teams messages.
• By referencing a recent file—like an open-source app PowerPoint—Copilot can create formal documentation automatically.
• This feature eliminates redundant work, such as manually transferring information from slides to Word docs.

4. Enhance and Rewrite Content Intelligently

• Copilot enables paragraph-level editing with options like “make this super imaginative” or “expand with more detail.”
• Users can preview changes and choose to replace the original or keep both versions for comparison.
• This makes revising drafts a creative, efficient, and flexible process.

5. Visualize Task Lists into Tables

• When creating lists with estimated durations (e.g., “Create Outline - 2 hours”), Copilot can automatically convert them into structured tables.
• This is ideal for building course schedules, project plans, or instructional outlines that require clear time allocations.
• It saves time and adds a professional touch to documents that would otherwise require manual formatting.

Bonus Features Worth Noting

• Copilot integrates deeply with Microsoft 365, pulling data across Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook to provide intelligent suggestions.
• Users can also ask Copilot to identify calls to action, generate headlines, or build content modules based on existing documents.
• It encourages iterative feedback—thumbs down poor suggestions, tweak your prompts, and try again for refined results.

Conclusion

Copilot is more than a text generator—it's an intelligent assistant embedded in your existing workflow. Whether you're summarizing a report, designing a class, or generating documentation from a PowerPoint, Copilot offers smart, fast, and context-aware support. Brian emphasizes that being specific with prompts and experimenting with its features will unlock the tool’s full potential.

For anyone working regularly with Microsoft Word, Copilot is a game-changer. Explore more in-depth tutorials and videos on the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to keep leveling up your productivity with Microsoft 365 AI tools.

Don't forget to check out the Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform for more insightful content and training sessions on Copilot and other Microsoft applications. Be sure to subscribe to the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest tips and tricks.