Instant messages, she said, have left her no other choice.

But just as he was about to log off, an instant message came in.

In August, the manager's company put an end to instant messages.

It will signal whether they are online, so I can quickly send them an instant message.

I sent an instant message to my husband: "Table settings?"

But just as with a phone that is never answered, people will wonder why you are not available for instant messages.

He has also been known to send me instant messages (while we are both in the house) asking what's for dinner.

In the spring of 2009, a college student named Amy received an instant message from someone claiming to know her.

When she was 12, then, one evening she sent him an instant message.

They adopt two screen names for instant messages and give parents only one.