How to write in different tones with AI

Whether you’re generating a pep talk or a formal invitation, the AI writing tools in Microsoft Edge can match the tone you need. With AI-powered Copilot built into the Microsoft Edge sidebar, you even have access to a personal writing assistant while you browse the web. Learn how to use Copilot in the Microsoft Edge sidebar to generate text in the tone you need in a few easy steps.

What is tone in writing?

You know tone in writing when you experience it. For instance, the phrases “we need to talk” and “let’s talk soon” technically mean the same thing, but they have completely different tones. “We need to talk” implies a much more serious conversation, while “let’s talk soon” is typically more casual.

The tone of a piece of writing can be happy, sad, frantic, witty, silly, or whatever mood the author is projecting.

Woman typing on a Surface Pro 9 with a colorful swirl around her representing her creativity

Credit: Image created with AI

How to choose writing tones

By selecting the Copilot icon in the Microsoft Edge sidebar, you have access to on-the-spot AI-powered text generation. You can ask Copilot to generate text in any tone you like, or you can provide text and ask Copilot to rewrite it in a new tone. There are a few ways to access these features:

Compose tab

In the Copilot pane of the Microsoft Edge sidebar, you will see an option for the Compose tab. While the same text generation functionality is built into the Chat tab as well, the Compose tab offers built-in tone options. Enter your prompt into the Ask me anything… search box and select from a range of options for length, formatting, and tone. Choose from default tone settings such as professional, casual, enthusiastic, informational, funny, and succinct, or select + to add your own.

Chat tab

If you choose to ask Copilot to generate the text you want in the Chat tab of the Copilot sidebar pane, you can also choose a conversation style at the top of the tab. Each conversation style—More Creative, More Balanced, and More Precise—also impacts tone. Choose your conversation style, and then enter a prompt like one of these to see what Copilot can create:

Write a funny poem to help me learn about astronomy.
Make an itinerary for a romantic weekend trip to [location] in May. Write it in a flirty tone.
Help me find the right tone for an email I wrote. Please rewrite this three times, each one more formal than the last: [email text].

Play with tone, style, and more with Copilot

Copilot can generate text in an enormous variety of tones, languages, styles, genres, and more! Whether you’re asking it to write a first draft or help you find the perfect wording for the last sentence in a revision, try Copilot in Microsoft Edge sidebar to create writing just the way you want it.