An approach is provided for personalizing an error message for a user. A modified help system monitors interactions with the help system and includes instructions about error conditions. The instructions are in formats that match four learning styles indicating a preference for visual input, spoken verbal input, written verbal input, and a combination of visual and verbal input. Selections of content to resolve error conditions and types of interactions are recorded. Learning format, learning type, interactivity level, interactivity type, and semantic density of the selected content are determined. A learning style model is generated. Based on the model, the learning style of the user is determined to be one of the four learning styles. A predetermined error message describing a detected error condition is retrieved. The error message is augmented with an instruction in a format that matches the learning style of the user and is presented to the user.