What is CC and BCC? In email, CC stands for “carbon copy” and BCC stands for “blind carbon copy.” Both send a copy of the message to extra people. Everyone can see who was CC’d, but BCC recipients are hidden from all other recipients. For example, you might CC your manager on a client update and BCC a large list so people can’t see each other’s addresses.
What do CC and BCC mean at work?
Every email has three address lines, and each one sends a different signal:
- To: the main recipients. The message is for them, and they are expected to read it and often respond.
- CC: people who should be kept informed but usually don’t need to act. Everyone can see who is on CC.
- BCC: people who receive the email secretly. No other recipient can see BCC addresses, and BCC recipients can’t see each other.
The terms date back to typewriters, when carbon paper was used to make copies of a letter. “CC” at the bottom of a memo showed who else got a copy.
Examples of CC and BCC
CC example: To: client@acme.com. CC: your manager. “Hi Jordan, attaching the revised proposal. I’ve CC’d Priya, our director, who will join Thursday’s call.”
BCC example: To: yourself. BCC: 40 event attendees. “Thanks for attending our workshop. Slides are attached.” Nobody sees the other attendees’ addresses.
Introduction example: “Thanks for the intro, Sam! Moving you to BCC to spare your inbox.”
Slack talk: “Can you CC me on the vendor email so I can follow the thread?”
To vs CC vs BCC
| To | CC | BCC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Main audience | People to keep informed | Hidden recipients |
| Visible to others? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Expected to reply? | Usually | Usually not | No |
| Gets “Reply all” replies? | Yes | Yes | No |
How to use CC and BCC correctly
- Put action-takers in To. If you need someone to do something, don’t hide them in CC.
- CC sparingly. Copying too many people clutters inboxes and can look like you’re covering yourself (see CYA).
- Use BCC for large external lists. It protects people’s privacy. For regular newsletters, use a mailing tool instead.
- Don’t use BCC to secretly loop in your boss on a conflict. If the recipient finds out, trust takes a hit. Forward the email instead, or CC openly.
- Remember BCC isn’t fully secret. If a BCC recipient clicks “Reply all,” everyone learns they were copied.
- Say when you add or remove people. “Adding Lee from finance” or “Moving Sam to BCC” keeps everyone in the loop.
Related terms
Browse more short forms in our Workplace Acronyms hub.
FAQ
What does CC mean in email?
CC means carbon copy. It sends a copy of the email to people who should be informed, and everyone can see who was CC’d.
What does BCC mean in email?
BCC means blind carbon copy. BCC recipients get the email, but their addresses are hidden from everyone else on the message.
Can BCC recipients see each other?
No. Each BCC recipient sees only the sender, the To and CC recipients, and themselves.
Do CC recipients have to reply?
Usually not. CC signals “for your information.” If you need a reply or action, put that person in the To line.
Is it rude to BCC someone?
Using BCC to protect privacy on group emails is polite. Using it to secretly copy someone into a sensitive conversation can damage trust.
