WHAT'S NEW IN MICROSOFT WORD

The world's best-known word processor just keeps on gaining new capabilities. Nik Rawlinson checks out the latest features you might have missed

- Nik Rawlinson

Most of us don't ask much from a word processor. It's been suggested that the original release of Word for Windows back in 1989 did everything most people need, so you might well wonder how Microsoft can possibly keep evolving the app in ways that are useful enough to justify a rolling subscription.

Yet recent releases have brought some significant updates - and if you haven't noticed them, that's because Microsoft has taken the respectable approach of keeping most of them out of your way, unless you specifically call on them.

As you surely know, Word is part of Microsoft 365, available as a monthly or annual subscription. Pricing for home users starts at £85 per year for a single user, £105 for a family of up to six. That's a price rise compared to last year, but it now includes AI-powered Copilot features. If you want the suite without Copilot, you can downgrade your subscription - and claim a partial rebate - via the instructions at tinyurl.com/375downgrade.

Just released last month, there's also a new option called Microsoft 365 Premium. For £19 a month, or £190 a year, this gets you the full set of AI features, with the highest usage limits. That includes Copilot Chat, which is based on ChatGPT - so if you're currently paying a separate £20 a month rate for ChatGPT Plus, Microsoft 365 Premium could be a much more cost-effective option, especially since one subscription covers up to six users.

For businesses, Copilot is an add-on to existing Microsoft 365 or Office 365 plans, costing around £24 per user per month on top of the standard licence.

If you'd like to try before you buy, there's a free one-month trial (see tinyurl.com/375trial). Be warned, however, that this is available only for the Family bundle, so if you're interested in a Personal licence, be sure to cancel the auto-renewal before the trial period expires.