Reducing the amount of input required by a user to enter an electronic message. When an electronic message is received, one or more language expressions associated with the electronic message are displayed to a user. The user may select one or more of the language expressions and have the full text of all the selected language expressions included in a reply electronic message. Icons, which represent a user's capability to engage in an electronic messaging session, may also be displayed. When a user changes their capability to engage in an electronic messaging session, for instance when they go offline, a command may be sent to other users. This command may take the form of a character sequence not normally occurring in written language, which is interpreted by network devices and changes the display of the icon associated with a the user who went offline.