Email etiquette for cc

The age-old question of CC etiquette!

CC stands for "Carbon Copy," a term that dates back to the days of physical carbon paper used to create duplicates of documents. Today, CC is used in email to send a copy of an email to someone who is not the primary recipient, but still wants to keep them informed.

Here are some email etiquette guidelines for using CC:

When to use CC:

  1. Informing others of a conversation: Use CC to keep others informed about a conversation or decision that affects them.
  2. Collaboration: CC team members or stakeholders who need to be aware of a project's progress or decisions.
  3. Keeping records: CC someone who needs to keep a record of the email conversation, such as a supervisor or manager.

Best practices for using CC:

  1. Use it sparingly: Avoid overusing CC, as it can lead to information overload and cluttered inboxes.
  2. Be mindful of the recipient's workload: Only CC someone if they truly need to be informed or involved in the conversation.
  3. Keep the CC list concise: Limit the number of people you CC to only those who need to be informed.
  4. Use BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) when necessary: Use BCC when you want to send an email to multiple recipients without revealing their email addresses to each other.
  5. Avoid CC'ing people who don't need to be informed: Don't CC someone just because you think they might be interested in the conversation. Only CC people who have a direct stake in the topic.
  6. Use a clear subject line: Make sure the subject line clearly indicates the purpose of the email, so recipients can quickly understand the context.
  7. Keep the email concise: Keep the email brief and to the point, so recipients can quickly scan and understand the content.
  8. Avoid using CC for personal or non-work-related emails: Keep personal or non-work-related emails out of your work inbox and avoid CC'ing colleagues unnecessarily.

Common CC mistakes to avoid:

  1. Over-CC'ing: Sending an email to too many people, which can lead to information overload and cluttered inboxes.
  2. CC'ing people who don't need to be informed: Sending an email to someone who doesn't need to be informed, which can lead to unnecessary distractions and information overload.
  3. Not using a clear subject line: Failing to provide a clear subject line, which can lead to recipients not understanding the purpose of the email.

By following these guidelines, you can use CC effectively and maintain good email etiquette in your professional communications.