When an awkward Outlook email matters, write your draft first, then open Coaching by Copilot from the Copilot icon. Review its suggestions on tone, clarity and reader sentiment, keep or reject each one, and re-check names, dates and commitments before you send. You need a Microsoft Copilot work licence, and on Mac the latest Outlook.
Steps follow Microsoft Support's Coaching by Copilot page, checked 2 October 2026. The Friday status example is made up.
For standing writing preferences across replies, see Set Outlook Copilot Draft Instructions for clearer emails.
Open Coaching on the draft you wrote
In new Outlook for Windows or classic Outlook for Windows, start from Home > New Mail > Mail and write the message yourself. Select the Copilot icon on the compose toolbar, then choose Coaching by Copilot. Copilot reviews the draft and offers suggestions on tone, clarity and reader sentiment. On Mac, use New Mail, then the same Copilot > Coaching by Copilot path; only the latest Outlook for Mac supports it, and legacy Outlook does not.
Coaching needs a Microsoft Copilot work licence. If the menu item is missing, check your licence with IT before you change the draft. Coaching judges how the email might land; it doesn't verify names, dates, owners or commitments, so that check stays with you.
Read each suggestion and keep only the ones that match what you meant. Apply all suggestions regenerates the whole email from Copilot's recommendations, so use it only when you want a full rewrite. Otherwise take the changes you accept one at a time, then re-read the draft for names, dates, figures and any commitment you're about to make. Send only after that pass.
That fact check is the same habit as how to check AI output before using it at work: confirm every specific against the thread or your notes before your name goes on it.
Example: Friday status before Send
Sam needs to send an awkward update to Dana about Friday's Northgate cutover. The draft is already written; Sam wants a tone check without starting again from a blank prompt.
Sam opens Copilot > Coaching by Copilot. Suppose Coaching flags the opener as padded, suggests making the request clearer and softens "looks at risk". Sam takes the clearer request, rejects the softer risk wording because the blocker is real, and skips Apply all suggestions so the rest of the draft stays intact.
Before Send, Sam re-reads the edited draft against the thread: 3pm Thursday is the real deadline, Alex has agreed to weekend cover only if Friday goes ahead, and "at risk" still matches the unconfirmed supplier window. Then Sam sends.
Hi Dana,
Just a quick note on Northgate. The supplier still hasn't confirmed the weekend window, so Friday's cutover looks at risk. Can you confirm by 3pm Thursday whether we hold or slip to Monday? Alex is covering the weekend comms if we go.
Thanks,
SamSources
Get email coaching with Copilot in Outlook, Microsoft Support. Compose paths for Windows, Mac and mobile; Coaching by Copilot for tone, clarity and reader sentiment; Apply all suggestions regenerates the email text; latest Outlook required on Mac. Primary source. Checked 2 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions about Copilot in Outlook, Microsoft Support. Coaching by Copilot available with a Microsoft Copilot (work) licence; Draft with Copilot and Coaching sit on the Copilot button while drafting. Checked 2 October 2026.