What is cc in email, and when should you use it? Explanation and examples

What is cc, and what’s its meaning?

The abbreviation cc means “carbon copy.” The term dates back to a time before the invention of photocopiers when written documents were copied using carbon paper. While you should use the To field to address the primary recipients of your emails, cc provides an additional opportunity to keep people up-to-date without having to forward emails after they’re sent. It’s easy to enter your intended recipient’s addresses into the cc field, but it can be challenging to understand when it’s appropriate to use the function. Following cc etiquette remains an important part of overall email decorum that you shouldn’t overlook.

How to use cc

Ccing is as easy as entering your recipient’s email addresses. Typically, the cc field sits below the To field, where you’ll add the primary recipient of an email. Look to the right corner of the email composer and select Cc to make the field appear if you’re having trouble finding it.

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Once you’ve added all of your recipients, you’re ready to select Send. Remember that email recipients can see the addresses of anyone who’s been cc’d.

When to use cc

Consider the desired action you’d like from the exchange when deciding between sending an email directly to someone or cc’ing them. If you’re looking for someone to reply to your email directly, always use the To field to send it to them. As a general rule of thumb, if you’d like someone to access the information in your email but don’t need a response from them, use cc.

Cc’ing instead of sending an email directly to multiple recipients helps clarify your expectations for their response. Your recipients might be unsure if they should respond or wait until someone else does if you send an email to several people without utilizing cc. When you copy someone to an email using cc, they’ll understand there’s no expectation for them to respond. Using cc properly can reduce time-consuming, back-and-forth communication that distracts from your daily priorities and prevents your colleagues from achieving inbox zero.

Choosing between cc vs. bcc

If you’re already familiar with using cc, you might be unsure about the difference between cc and bcc. While these fields function similarly, there are distinct reasons to choose one, depending on your situation. Bcc stands for “blind carbon copy” and also copies recipients onto an email thread. Unlike cc, recipients receiving an email under bcc cannot be seen by other recipients. Bcc is appropriate for sending out mass emails or newsletters. Remember that anyone copied under bcc won’t receive replies to the email going forward; they’ll only have access to the initial email you copied them on.

If you use bcc to prevent an email recipient from seeing who you’ve copied, remember that it does not block email tracking. The primary recipient will be notified if they have read receipts set up, including people blind copied to the email.

More tips for using cc

Most of the time, you can use cc as an easy way to share information with little downside. However, when in doubt, follow these tips to avoid an email faux pas.

• Only use cc when necessary, not to micromanage or include everyone you work with. Even if the email doesn’t need a response, it can clutter your colleague’s inboxes.
• Don’t turn cc into a passive-aggressive tool against your colleagues by copying their boss on email.
• While using cc can be a great way to connect colleagues or clients, avoid using it if you’re unsure whether the recipients would want their contact information shared with others on the email.
• Be careful when using reply all on emails that include cc’d recipients. While it can be useful when you want to share information with everyone in a conversation, it might be unnecessary.
• Don’t expect a response from cc’d recipients. As a rule of thumb, a response or action isn’t required unless otherwise requested.

Although people use cc regularly in daily communication, it’s best used thoughtfully to avoid unnecessary emails. Keep these tips in mind before you press send on your next email.