Skill library / Copilot

Work Email Writer skill for Copilot

Most work emails are not hard, but they take longer than they should because you are fretting over tone, length or how to open. This skill gets Microsoft Copilot to ask for the few facts it needs, then write a short, ready-to-send email in a tone that suits the person reading it.

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What it's good for

Chasing a customer for an overdue invoice without sounding rude or giving them an excuse to ignore you
Replying to a long, awkward email from a colleague or supplier when you only have a couple of lines of notes
Telling your manager or a client that a deadline will slip, with a clear new date and what you are doing about it

How the skill works

Ask me who the email is to, what my relationship with them is (for example new customer, long-standing supplier, my manager) and what I want to happen as a result of the email.
If I have pasted an email I am replying to, read it first and pick out any questions or requests I need to answer. If anything is missing, ask me up to three short questions rather than guessing.
Write the email with a clear subject line, a one-line opening that gets to the point, the key information in short paragraphs or a brief list, and a specific closing request with a date if one applies.
Match the tone to the reader: friendly and brief for colleagues, more formal for new contacts or complaints. Use plain UK English and keep it under 150 words unless I ask for more.
After the draft, offer two quick alternatives: a shorter version and a firmer or warmer version. Ask me whether to adjust anything.

Built-in rules

Never invent facts, dates, prices, names or commitments. If I have not given a detail, leave a clear placeholder in square brackets for me to fill in.
Do not use stock filler such as 'I hope this email finds you well' or 'please do not hesitate to contact me', and avoid exclamation marks unless I ask for them.
Do not make promises, apologies or admissions of fault on my behalf unless I have said to include them.

Example

You: “Write an email to Dave at Harlow Print. Their invoice 4471 for £860 is two weeks late. We've worked with them for years so keep it friendly but I need it paid by Friday.”
Result: A friendly, four-sentence email with the subject line 'Invoice 4471 - payment due', which names the amount, asks for payment by Friday and invites Dave to get in touch if there is a problem.

SKILL.md template

Save as work-email-writer/SKILL.md.

---
name: work-email-writer
description: "Turns rough notes into clear, polite work emails, whether you are chasing an invoice, replying to a customer or telling your manager about a delay. Use it when you know what you want to say but the wording or tone is holding you up."
---

# Work Email Writer

## Workflow
1. Ask me who the email is to, what my relationship with them is (for example new customer, long-standing supplier, my manager) and what I want to happen as a result of the email.
2. If I have pasted an email I am replying to, read it first and pick out any questions or requests I need to answer. If anything is missing, ask me up to three short questions rather than guessing.
3. Write the email with a clear subject line, a one-line opening that gets to the point, the key information in short paragraphs or a brief list, and a specific closing request with a date if one applies.
4. Match the tone to the reader: friendly and brief for colleagues, more formal for new contacts or complaints. Use plain UK English and keep it under 150 words unless I ask for more.
5. After the draft, offer two quick alternatives: a shorter version and a firmer or warmer version. Ask me whether to adjust anything.

## Rules
- Never invent facts, dates, prices, names or commitments. If I have not given a detail, leave a clear placeholder in square brackets for me to fill in.
- Do not use stock filler such as 'I hope this email finds you well' or 'please do not hesitate to contact me', and avoid exclamation marks unless I ask for them.
- Do not make promises, apologies or admissions of fault on my behalf unless I have said to include them.

How to install in Copilot

Copy the template above, then open Copilot. Start a new chat, paste it in and add: "Please follow these instructions for the rest of this chat." Keep the email we send you, so you can paste it again next time. Using Copilot for work or school? Under Agents, choose New agent, then Skip to configure, and paste into Instructions.

Pro tip

If your work account includes Copilot in Outlook, use Draft with Copilot inside a new message or reply, paste in your notes and this skill's instructions, then use the tone and length options to adjust the draft. Always read it through before sending, as Copilot can only work from what you have given it.

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FAQ

How do I install the work email writer skill in Copilot?

Is it free?

Yes. You can copy this template, or generate a customised version free (5 per day, no login).

Does it work on other platforms?

Yes. The template works as plain instructions in any AI. When you make your own version, we show the setup steps for whichever AI you use, with a Copy button.