What are CC and BCC in an email? (And how do I use them?)

Short answer:

CC = Carbon Copy

BCC = Blind Carbon Copy

Did that help?

Joking. I know that didn’t help. These abbreviations refer to obsolete technology. But we still use them because, well, that’s just the way it is. Some things will never change. (Thanks, Phil Collins!)

For real, these abbreviations were in use back when memos (that’s a document that got passed around the office that everyone had to memorize because that’s what we did pre-internet — we had to remember everything in our own heads) were physical paper, and if you wanted multiple copies, you had to make those copies yourself on a mimeograph.

Short Modern Answer:

CC = used to include people on a message who can respond, but are not expected to respond

BCC = used to include people on a message and conceal their email addresses from the other recipients. Best used to protect privacy when writing to a large group who may not have each other’s content info or to prevent Reply All.

Longer Answer:

On an email, we have three ways of sending a message to the audience:

• To
• CC