PREVENTING HUMAN ERROR IN INSTANT MESSAGING

A system, computer program and method for reducing communication errors in a messaging system. One embodiment of the invention involves delaying the transmission of a message to a discussion participant for a period of time. If a time countdown expires before activation of a message edit control, the message is transmitted to the discussion participant. If the message edit control is activated, the time countdown is terminated and the message is presented for modification without transmission of the message to the discussion participant. Another embodiment of the invention includes displaying a first user interface for communicating messages with a first person and a second user interface for communicating messages with a second person. An alert is provided when messaging activity has switched from the first user interface to the second user interface.