How to Fix Outlook Text Predictions Using the Wrong Name in Greetings
Question details
The user needs to correct Outlook's text prediction feature, which is suggesting a recipient's last name instead of their first name in email greetings and adding duplicate commas.
- Product
- Outlook on the Web (Microsoft 365)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Composing an email using an organizational Microsoft 365 account via the web portal (outlook.office.com).
- Observed behavior
- Outlook's text prediction intelligently auto-fills the greeting but incorrectly uses the recipient's last name rather than the first name, and sometimes inserts a double comma.
Ensure you are logged into the correct Outlook portal for your organization (outlook.office.com) and that you have permissions to view or edit your saved personal contacts.
Verify and Correct the Contact Name Fields
Check if the contact's first and last names have been accidentally swapped in your personal address book or saved contacts list.
Outlook's text prediction algorithms draw heavily from the metadata stored in your contact lists. If the 'First Name' and 'Last Name' fields are entered backward, the AI will suggest the wrong name during greetings.
Log in to outlook.office.com and click on the 'People' or 'Contacts' icon in the left-hand navigation pane.
Type the affected person's name into the search bar and select their profile from the results.
Click 'Edit contact' and carefully verify the text in the 'First Name' and 'Last Name' fields. If they are reversed, swap them.
Click 'Save', return to the Mail tab, and compose a new message to this recipient to see if the text prediction greeting is now correct.
Report the Directory Issue to Your IT Administrator
If the contact is not in your personal address book, their name may be mapped incorrectly in the organization's Global Address List (GAL).
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While Outlook handles your organizational emails, managing the attached documents, spreadsheets, and presentations shouldn't be a hassle. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, allowing you to seamlessly open, edit, and save your work files.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Outlook suggest the last name instead of the first name in greetings?
This usually happens when the recipient's details are saved with the first and last names reversed in your personal address book, or if they were inputted backward in your organization's Microsoft 365 directory.
How do I turn off text predictions in Outlook on the web?
To disable text predictions, click the Settings (gear) icon in the top right, go to Mail > Compose and reply, scroll down to the Text predictions section, and uncheck the 'Suggest words or phrases as I type' option.
Is there a difference in text predictions between outlook.live.com and outlook.office.com?
Yes. While both use similar AI features, outlook.live.com relies on your personal Microsoft account contacts, whereas outlook.office.com relies heavily on your organization's Active Directory and server-level syncing, which can affect how names and greetings are generated.
