Bcc vs cc email meaning
In email etiquette, BCC and CC are two important abbreviations that help you manage your email recipients. Here's what they mean:
BCC (Blind Carbon Copy)
When you add someone's email address to the BCC field, their email address is included in the email, but their name and email address are not visible to the other recipients. In other words, the BCC recipient is not listed in the "To" or "CC" fields, and they will not know who else received the email.
BCC is often used when you want to send an email to multiple people, but you don't want them to know who else is receiving the email. For example:
- You're sending a newsletter to a large list of subscribers, and you don't want them to know who else is on the list.
- You're sending a confidential document to multiple people, and you don't want them to know who else has access to the document.
CC (Carbon Copy)
When you add someone's email address to the CC field, their email address is included in the email, and their name and email address are visible to all other recipients. In other words, the CC recipient is listed in the "CC" field, and they will know who else received the email.
CC is often used when you want to keep someone informed about an email conversation, but you're not necessarily expecting them to take action or respond. For example:
- You're sending an update to a team member who needs to be informed about a project, but they're not directly involved in the project.
- You're sending a copy of an email to a manager or supervisor, so they're aware of the conversation.
Key differences:
- BCC recipients are not listed in the "To" or "CC" fields, while CC recipients are listed in the "CC" field.
- BCC recipients do not know who else received the email, while CC recipients can see the list of recipients.
- BCC is often used for confidential or sensitive information, while CC is often used for informational purposes.
Remember to use BCC responsibly and only when necessary, as it can be seen as spammy or misleading if used excessively.