Microsoft Editor is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps you improve your writing by checking for spelling, grammar, style, and clarity. It integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 desktop apps such as Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as browsers like Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Microsoft Editor in both desktop applications and as a browser extension.

How to Install Microsoft Editor as a Browser Extension

You can add Microsoft Editor to either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge by following these steps:

For Microsoft Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge and go to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons Store.
2. Search for "Microsoft Editor".
3. Click “Get” next to the Microsoft Editor extension.
4. Select “Add Extension” when prompted.
5. When prompted to sign in, use your college email and password.
6. Once installed, you will see the Microsoft Editor icon in your browser toolbar.

For Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for "Microsoft Editor".
3. Click “Add to Chrome” and then click “Add Extension.”
4. After installation, you will see the Microsoft Editor icon in your browser toolbar.

Using Microsoft Editor

Web Browser

Once installed, Microsoft Editor will start working automatically in text fields across supported websites:

1. Look for the Microsoft Editor icon in the top-right corner of your browser.
2. While typing in a supported website (e.g. Moodle, Facebook, LinkedIn), Microsoft Editor will underline potential errors.
3. Hover over or click underlined words to view suggestions. You can click on the suggestion to accept it or ignore it.
4.  Hover over or click underlined words to view suggestions. You can click on the suggestion to accept it or ignore it.

Microsoft Editor is built into popular Microsoft 365 desktop applications, like Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Here is how to make the most of it:

Microsoft Word (Desktop App and Web Browser):

1. Open Microsoft Word and start a new or existing document.
2. Click on the “Editor” button in the “Home” tab. This will open a side panel showing a report of spelling, grammar, clarity, and style suggestions. 
3. You will see a breakdown of errors, with color-coded underlines (red for spelling, blue for grammar, purple for style issues).
4. To accept or ignore suggestions, simply click on the suggestion, or ignore it from the panel.

Microsoft PowerPoint (Web Browser Only):

1. Open Microsoft PowerPoint and start a new or existing presentation.
2. Go to the “Review” tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on “Editor” in the toolbar.
4. The Editor pane will open, displaying suggestions for spelling, grammar, and writing style across your slides.
5. Just like in Word, you can accept or dismiss suggestions and view an overall report of writing issues across your entire presentation.

Microsoft Outlook (Desktop App and Web Browser):

1. Open Microsoft Outlook and begin composing an email.
2. As you type, Microsoft Editor will automatically underline spelling and grammar issues.
3. Click on the underlined word or phrase to view suggested corrections or click “Editor” in the ribbon to get a full report of suggestions. 
4. If you are using a web browser, navigate to “Options,” and select “Editor.” 
5. Just like in the other programs, you can accept or dismiss suggestions.

Customizing Microsoft Editor

You can personalize Microsoft Editor by adjusting the settings to suit your writing style:

In the Web Browser

1. Click on the Microsoft Editor icon in your browser’s toolbar.
2. Go to Settings to manage which writing checks you want enabled, including grammar, clarity, conciseness, and tone.
3. Choose from different writing styles: Formal, Casual, or Professional.

In the Desktop Apps

1. Open the desktop app (Word, Excel, or Outlook) and go to the “Review” tab.
2. Click on “Editor” to open the Editor pane.
3. In the Editor pane, click on “Settings” to customize your preferences.
4. Adjust the writing options by enabling or disabling checks for grammar, clarity, conciseness, and tone.
5. Choose from different writing styles: Formal, Casual, or Professional.

Tips for Optimizing Microsoft Editor

• Combine with Read Aloud: In Word, use the Read Aloud feature to hear your document read back to you, helping you catch mistakes you might have missed while reading.

Track Your Writing Score: In Word and PowerPoint, you can check your document’s overall writing score, which gives you insights on areas you can improve.