415419 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): Write a prompt for selected portions of text in Word

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Apps

Platform:

Mac, 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:
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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/3741230, 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: Training Coordinators, IT Support Staff
   - 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=5c1e1e1e7c1e

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft has introduced a change in how you can use Copilot in Word, particularly when drafting content. Previously, if you wanted to generate content based on a selected portion of text, Copilot would automatically expand your selection to include the entire paragraph, table, or list. This was a bit like asking a chef to make a dish based on a specific ingredient, and the chef deciding to use the whole pantry instead.

Now, with the updated feature, you have more precision. You can select just a single sentence or item, and Copilot will focus solely on that selection. It's like highlighting a single ingredient for the chef and having them create a dish that highlights that specific flavor, without any extra additions. This change allows for more targeted content creation, giving you greater control over the output and making the drafting process more efficient and tailored to your specific needs.

This feature is available on Word for Mac as part of Microsoft 365, and it's designed to enhance your productivity by letting you work with exactly the text you want, without any unnecessary expansions.