The follow are the top 10 M365 Copilot prompts to utilize:

1. "Summarize this…"

Example: "Summarize this document into 5 bullet points, highlighting risks, decisions, and required next steps."

Why it’s powerful

Summaries are one of Copilot’s strongest capabilities. Microsoft explicitly highlights “Get the gist” as a core prompt category for M365 Copilot.

Pros

Extremely fast way to digest long documents, emails, or meeting transcripts.
Can tailor the summary (bullets, executive tone, risks-only, etc.).
Reduces cognitive load and speeds up decision-making.

Cons

If the source material is unclear or poorly structured, the summary may miss nuance.
Requires you to specify what type of summary you want (action items, risks, decisions, etc.) for best results.

2. "Catch me up…"

Example: "Catch me up on all unread emails from the past 3 days and list urgent items separately."

Why it’s powerful

Microsoft lists "Catch up on a meeting" and "Stay informed" as core Copilot workflows.

Pros

Saves hours of inbox or meeting recap time.
Helps you re-enter work after PTO or a busy day.
Can filter by sender, topic, or urgency.

Cons

If your inbox is extremely large, the recap may be too high-level.
Copilot may surface items you don’t consider “urgent” unless you define criteria.

3. "Draft a first version…"

Example: "Draft a first version of a project proposal for leadership. Use a confident tone and include an executive summary, timeline, and budget assumptions."

Why it’s powerful

Copilot excels at first drafts — Microsoft’s prompt guidance emphasizes using clear action verbs like draft and specifying tone and audience.

Pros

Eliminates blank-page syndrome.
Produces structured, professional drafts quickly.
Easy to refine with follow-up prompts.

Cons

Drafts may sound generic unless you provide context.
Requires human editing for accuracy and nuance.

4. "Analyze this data…"

Example: "Analyze this Excel sheet and identify trends, anomalies, and the top 3 insights for leadership/"

Why it’s powerful

Copilot in Excel can interpret datasets, find patterns, and generate insights — a major time-saver for non-analysts.

Pros

Great for quick insights without writing formulas.
Can generate charts, pivot tables, and explanations.
Helps validate your own analysis.

Cons

Works best with clean, well-labeled data.
May misinterpret ambiguous column names or inconsistent formats.

5. "Create an outline…"

Example: "Create an outline for a 10‑slide PowerPoint on our Q3 performance, including key metrics, wins, and risks."

Why it’s powerful

Microsoft’s prompt guidance shows that outlining is a high‑value use case for Copilot in Word and PowerPoint .

Pros

Gives you a structured starting point.
Ensures your content flows logically.
Saves time before building slides or documents.

Cons

Outlines may be too generic unless you specify audience and purpose.
You may need to refine the structure manually.

6. "Rewrite this…"

Example: "Rewrite this email to be more concise, professional, and action‑oriented."

Why it’s powerful

Copilot is excellent at rewriting for tone, clarity, and audience — a core prompt category ("Help me craft clear, confident communications") in Microsoft’s gallery .

Pros

Improves clarity and professionalism instantly.
Can adjust tone (friendly, assertive, executive, empathetic).
Great for sensitive or high‑stakes communication.

Cons

May over‑polish or change your voice.
Requires you to specify tone or style for best results.

7. "Find related content…"

Example: "Find related documents, emails, or Teams messages connected to the Q4 budget review."

Why it’s powerful

Microsoft highlights "Help me find related documents" as a core Copilot workflow.

Pros

Saves time searching across SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, and Teams.
Helps you discover forgotten or hidden files.
Useful for onboarding or taking over a project.

Cons

Results depend on your organization’s file naming and structure.
May surface too many items if your query is broad.

8. "Extract action items…"

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