415418 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): Write a prompt for selected portions of text in Word

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Apps

Platform:

Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

Details:

Writing a prompt to draft content based on your selection no longer expands your selection to the entire paragraph, table, or list. You can prompt based on a single sentence or item.

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2024-12-07

updated:
2025-09-27

Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Degradation
Users may experience confusion or frustration if the expected behavior of text selection changes, leading to potential errors in content drafting.
   - roles: Content Creators, Editors
   - references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-blog/introducing-microsoft-copilot-in-word/ba-p/3731230, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/03/16/introducing-microsoft-copilot-in-word/ " target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/03/16/introducing-microsoft-copilot-in-word/

Increased Training Needs
Users may require additional training to adapt to the new functionality, impacting productivity and increasing support requests.
   - roles: Trainers, End Users
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/03/16/introducing-microsoft-copilot-in-word/, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/03/17/microsoft-copilot-in-word-what-you-need-to-know/?sh=5c1c1c5e1b4e

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're working on a legal document or a report, and you need to draft content based on a specific sentence or item. Previously, if you wanted to use a tool to help generate or refine text, it would automatically expand to include the entire paragraph, table, or list, which could be cumbersome if you only needed help with a small part.

Think of it like using a highlighter on a printed page. Before, the highlighter would cover the entire paragraph even if you only wanted to focus on one sentence. Now, with the updated feature in Microsoft Word's Copilot, you can precisely highlight just the sentence or item you want to work on, and the tool will assist you based on that specific selection.

This change is like having a more precise tool in your toolkit, allowing you to focus on exactly what you need without extra clutter. It's a bit like having a scalpel instead of a broad brush, giving you the ability to work with greater precision and efficiency in your document creation process.