Cc and Bcc are standard fields that you will see in any email service. These acronyms (because they are acronyms) can be found in both Gmail and Outlook. Sometimes Bcc is replaced by its English version Bcc. I am sure that you have been using these acronyms for years without really knowing what they mean. But what does Cc mean? What does Bcc mean? We answer you here by explaining these two terms and how you can use them in your emails.
What is the meaning of Cc in an email?
Usually located near the “A” which determines the recipient of your email, what could possibly be the meaning of Cc?
The acronym Cc literally means “ carbon copy" . OK, that doesn't help us much.
The term "carbon copy" comes from a bygone era when email was the stuff of science fiction and the photocopier did not yet exist. When you wanted to send a letter or document to several people, you used a sheet of carbon paper that you inserted between the letter and a blank sheet of paper. When writing or typing, the carbon paper made it possible to leave a mark on the blank sheet of paper and thus create a copy. It was even possible to superimpose several sheets of carbon paper and blank sheets of paper... of course, the further you got from the top of the stack, the less readable the copy was.
Besides, when I was in primary school, we sometimes took our lessons on carbon paper when a classmate was absent.
So, with the arrival of computers and the invention of mail electronic, the term carbon copy has been taken up under the sign Cc.
Carbon copying or Cc a recipient in an email message means that you send them a copy of the message by inserting their email address in the Cc field. This way, people on the "To" line can see the email addresses of people on the "Cc" line and vice versa.
When to use Cc?
When you send an email to a recipient, you add their address in the "To" field. This is the person to whom the message is intended and from whom you often expect a response.
If you want to include another person in the email to keep them updated, use the Cc line. This way, the recipient of the Cc line will understand that the email is for their informational purposes and that they do not need to take any action.
For example, you can send a quote to a customer and carbon copy your manager so they are aware of the message and the quote.
You may also find yourself in situations where someone asks you to copy them on an email, which is common in business settings. This means that they want to be kept in the loop, see the message you are sending, or have it as a reference. In this case too, you should use the Cc field rather than the “To” field.
What is the meaning of Bcc?
The acronym Bcc stands for "blind carbon copy" which is often called "blind copy" which can create confusion with the Cc sign. Bcc is an invention that was born at the same time as email. Just like Cc, it allows you to send a copy of your email to one of your contacts, but this one is invisible. No other recipient of the email can see it whether it is in the "To" or Cc field. On the other hand, he can see all the Cc or the main recipient of the "To" field.
When to use Bcc?
If it is important for a recipient to see an email, but you want them to e-mail address remain private or not visible to other recipients, you must use the Bcc field.
For example, you might want to send a message to all your customers, but you don't want your customers to see each other's email addresses.
As in the Cc example, your boss may ask you to send them a blind copy of a message you forward. While this still means the person wants to stay informed about your message, they don't want the recipient (on the "To" line) to see their email address.
The main difference between Bcc and Cc is therefore the visibility of the addresses. email for other recipients of the message.
What you must remember
Cc stands for carbon copy and Bcc stands for blind carbon copy. Use Cc when you want to send a copy of an email to a recipient. Use Bcc when you want to send a copy, but hide the recipient's email address.
Article updated on January 10, 2025 by Byothe
