LLM

How to Get Better Microsoft 365 Copilot Output with Smarter Prompts and Improved Contexts

Boost your Microsoft 365 Copilot results with precise prompts and full context. Learn tips for better AI outputs and maximize GPT-5 efficiency.

Anas

29 Nov 2025 — 5 min read

Have you ever wondered why some people generate sophisticated AI outputs effortlessly, even without high-end ChatGPT or Copilot subscriptions?

The secret isn’t magic or getting the highest-tier subscription on the market.
It’s precision in prompts and context.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to improve Copilot outputs using simple but powerful techniques.

Why AI Outputs Can Fail: Bias and Hallucination

Before diving into prompts and context, you need to understand the two biggest risks of using Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT incorrectly:

Bias: The way you frame a prompt can nudge the model toward your perspective, even unintentionally.
"Explain to me why most people prefer Excel rather than Google Sheets."
If you were to ask this, your LLMs will immediately take your side and say Excel is better than Google Sheets.
Lying (Hallucination): If an LLM doesn’t have a factual answer, it might generate something plausible but false.
Consulting giant Deloitte had to refund part of a $440,000 consultancy fee to the Australian government after admitting that a report, which included AI-generated content, was riddled with serious errors. There were references to non-existent documents and legislation, as well as a misnamed judge. (News Source)

The quality of AI-generated content depends primarily on two factors:

Precision of instruction prompts
Context of information provided

Precision of Instruction Prompts

LLMs rely on intent recognition. Essentially, your prompts map to consistent task patterns across your connected applications.

For example, with Copilot, the LLM maps to Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, Loop, and Teams. Copilot categorizes tasks into predictable buckets:

Summarize
Rewrite
Generate
Analyze
Retrieve
Explain
Extract
Plan
Transform
Create (documents, presentations, emails)

In an office setting, outputs are often pre-determined. Reports and documents need to follow the company SOPs. By crafting standardized prompts, you can ensure Copilot or other LLMs consistently deliver accurate outputs.

Tips for precise prompts:

Be specific about format and output style.
Include examples of expected results.
Use active verbs like “analyze,” “summarize,” or “extract.”
For repetitive tasks, create reusable prompt templates.

Context: The Key to Better AI Output

Here’s where many users underutilize their AI tools. Context isn’t just the text you type. It includes files, tables, and any attached data.

Understanding the Context Window

LLMs “see” only a limited amount of text at once, measured in tokens (~3–4 characters per token) called context window.
Both user inputs and AI outputs count toward this limit.
Older parts of the conversation may be compressed or dropped as the context window fills.

For reference, based on OpenAI Platform documentation:

Model	Context Window (Tokens)	Max Output / Notes
GPT-3.5 Turbo	16,385	4,096 tokens
GPT-4 Standard	8,192	8,192 tokens
GPT o4-Mini	200,000	100,000 tokens
GPT-5 Chat/API	128,000	128,000 tokens
GPT-5 Codex	400,000	128,000 tokens
GPT-4.1	1,047,576	32,768 tokens

A 128,000-token context window equates to roughly 183 pages. That’s a huge advantage if you preload data into prompts instead of giving minimal instructions.

Improving your Copilot

GPT Models Used

Microsoft 365 Copilot now runs primarily on GPT-5. But not all tasks are routed to the highest-end variant:

High-throughput GPT-5: Quick, simple tasks
Deeper reasoning GPT-5: Complex analysis

Older or lighter models (GPT-3.5, GPT-o4-mini) are still used for speed or less demanding prompts.

To maximize results, you want Copilot to utilize the higher-end GPT models whenever possible.

To do this, always be precise with what output you want and the relevant inputs to be included in your prompt.

Best practices:

Always include relevant datasets, spreadsheets, or notes in your prompt.
For Excel, ensure tables are properly tagged and structured.
For articles, include all your research points and desired sections.

Practical Examples for Workplace Efficiency

Example 1: Writing an Article

Gather notes and key points based on your intended topics.
Include the relevant information in the prompt below at the specific sections of the prompt:

Prompt:
I have the following raw content/notes that I want to expand into a fully polished SEO-optimized article for my website, [name of website].

Raw Content/Notes:
[Refer to content posted here or additionally provided outside of this file]

Instructions for ChatGPT:
- Tone & Style:
- Write in a clear, engaging, and conversational style (like a productivity/tech blogger).
- Keep paragraphs short and scannable.
- Use first-hand perspective where possible (“I tried…” / “I found…”).

SEO Optimization:
- Create a strong H1 title with the target keyword included.
- Break article into sections with H2/H3 subheadings that naturally include relevant keywords.
- Add a meta description (150–160 characters) optimized for click-through.
- Suggest 3–5 title tag variations for SEO.
- Include a TL;DR or summary section at the end with quick takeaways.
- Naturally weave in related keywords and synonyms (e.g., “[insert topic keyword] guide,” “[insert brand/campaign],” “is it worth doing?” etc.).

Formatting:
- Use bullet points and numbered lists for easy readability.
- Add a final verdict or call-to-action section.
- Ensure the article is 1000+ words if the raw content allows.

E-E-A-T Compliance:
- Emphasize experience by framing opinions as firsthand impressions.
- Provide analysis and pros/cons rather than just description.
- Make it genuinely helpful for readers searching the topic.

Output I want from you:
- Full SEO-optimized article draft (ready to publish).
- SEO meta description.
- 3–5 SEO-friendly title options.

Example 2: Excel Analysis

Clean and tag all tables based on your raw data extracted.
Include the file in your prompt.
Prompt using the instructions below and edit the tasks as per your requirements:

Prompt:
You are a financial/data analyst. Analyze the attached Excel file [INSERT FILE NAME] and perform the following tasks:

1. Identify and summarize key metrics and trends (e.g., sales, revenue, expenses).
2. Calculate ratios such as profit margin, ROI, or growth percentages.
3. Highlight any anomalies or outliers in the data.
4. Suggest actionable insights based on the analysis.
5. Present the results in a clear, structured format, suitable for management reporting.

Please provide the output in bullet points or a table for clarity.

By combining precise instructions with full context, Copilot can produce professional-quality outputs consistently.

Verdict

Maximizing Copilot is about strategy, not luck. Take time to design your prompts, include the right context, and understand the model’s capabilities. This approach will save hours in analysis, writing, and reporting, and produce outputs you can trust.