CC in Email | Definition & Tips

Cc in email stands for “carbon copy” (or alternatively, “courtesy copy”). It is a way to include someone in an email while indicating that this person does not necessarily need to respond.

There are three ways to include someone in an email: the “to,” “cc,” and “bcc” fields. Their similarities and differences are summarized in the table below.

What does cc mean in email?

Cc is a way to include someone when sending an email. Anyone cc’d in an email will be able to see other people in the “to” and “cc” fields and can use “reply all” to include these people in their response. They cannot see or respond to anyone who is bcc’d.

The “cc” field is generally used to transparently keep someone updated, while indicating that they aren’t expected to respond.

Cc vs bcc vs to

You can include someone in an email thread using three different fields: “to,” “cc,” and “bcc.”

You should use the “to” field when an email is directly relevant to someone and you expect a reply. Anyone whose email is included in the “to” field will be visible to all other recipients and included if anyone clicks “reply all” to respond.

Cc has the same functions as “to”—cc’d recipients are visible to everyone else and included in “reply all” messages. However, when you cc someone, you’re indicating that you’d like to keep them informed but don’t necessarily expect them to reply.

Bcc (blind carbon copy) allows you to include someone on an email thread while keeping their address hidden from all other recipients. Bcc’d recipients can see email addresses in the “to” and cc fields, but only the original sender can see their email. They are not included in “reply all” messages, but if they reply all to a message, their response will include anyone in the “to” and “cc” fields.

When should I use cc?

Cc should be used to transparently keep someone informed when sending an email. Using cc instead of the “to” field signifies that the person does not necessarily need to reply. Cc could be used in the following situations:

• To keep a stakeholder informed: Cc can be used to keep someone informed of the status of a project or to let them know that a task has been completed (e.g., ccing your manager to keep them updated on a project’s progress).
• For record keeping: The “cc” field can be used to include someone in a conversation for their future reference (e.g., if you’re completing tasks for a colleague while they are away).
• When emailing on behalf of a team: If you’re sending an email on behalf of yourself and others, you can cc these other people to keep them in the loop.

When not to use cc

The “cc” field should be used to increase transparency. However, be cautious of using cc in the following situations:

• Sending confidential information: Before ccing someone, consider if it’s appropriate to share the contents of the email with them.
• Trying to make someone look bad: Including someone in the cc field can seem passive aggressive in certain contexts (e.g., calling out a coworker on a mistake by ccing their manager).
• Including someone unnecessarily: People often receive an overwhelming number of emails. Before ccing someone, consider whether the email is directly relevant to them.

Always consider your intentions when ccing someone—does this person need to be kept in the loop, or are you including them for a different reason?

Frequently asked questions about cc in emails

What’s the difference between bcc and cc?

Bcc and cc are both ways to attach someone to an email. Someone who is cc’d on an email is visible to all other recipients, whereas someone who is bcc’d is not visible to anyone.

Someone who is cc’d is also included in “reply all” emails; someone who is bcc’d is not.

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What does cc stand for?

In email, cc stands for “carbon copy” (or, alternatively, “courtesy copy”). It is a way to include someone in an email but indicates that they don’t need to reply.

While anyone cc’d in an email is visible to other recipients, someone who is bcc’d (blind carbon copied) is not.

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What does carbon copy mean?

The term carbon copy (or cc) is a way to attach someone to an email thread. This person is visible to all other recipients and included in “reply all” messages.

Ccing someone is a way to keep them informed, while indicating that they do not need to reply. An alternative to cc is bcc, which keeps someone’s email hidden from other recipients.

When deciding whether to cc someone, consider whether they really need to be informed—no one likes receiving an unnecessary email! You should also make sure your emails are concise. QuillBot’s paraphrasing tool can help you craft informative, to-the-point emails.

How do I CC someone?

Though the exact way to cc someone varies across different email services, the general process is the same.

The cc field is usually located underneath or beside the “to” field. When drafting an email, click on the cc field and add the email address(es) of anyone you want to cc.

You can also add recipients to the “to” and “bcc” fields. Draft your email as usual, and press “Send” when you’re ready.

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