Email is a popular means of communication, and it is not uncommon to send messages to multiple recipients at once. However, depending on the nature of the email, it may not be appropriate or necessary for everyone to see who else is receiving the message. To address this, email clients offer a feature that allows you to send emails to multiple recipients while keeping their email addresses private. This feature is known as the “carbon copy (Cc)” and “blind carbon copy (Bcc).”

What is Cc?

Cc stands for carbon copy. When you add someone to the Cc field, they will receive a copy of the email, and all other recipients will see their email address. So, make sure to use Cc only when all recipients need to see the entire email chain. This feature is useful when you want to give a message to someone who needs to be aware of the conversation but is not directly involved in it.

What is Bcc?

Bcc stands for blind carbon copy. When you add someone to the Bcc field, they will receive a copy of the email, but none of the other recipients will see their email address. Therefore, you can send emails to multiple recipients without revealing their identities to others, making this feature useful for keeping email lists private. Bcc is great when you want to send an email to a group of people without them knowing each other’s email addresses.

How to send an email using Cc and Bcc

In most email clients, the Cc and Bcc fields are located in the same place as the To field—a few inches below it. In Gmail, for example, simply type in the recipient’s email under the “To” field, and then click on “Cc” or “Bcc” on the right side of the screen.

When sending an email with multiple recipients, use the “To” field to enter the primary recipient, whose email will be visible to everyone. Then, use the “Cc” field to add any other recipients who need to see the email chain. Finally, use the “Bcc” field to add any other recipients who should receive the email without revealing their identity to others. Make sure to explain why they are receiving the email, so they are not confused about the context.

Final thoughts

Sending emails to multiple recipients is very common, but using Cc and Bcc can help you to manage the privacy of your messages. Cc is useful when you want to give a message to someone who needs to be aware of the conversation but is not directly involved in it. Bcc is excellent when you want to send an email to a group of people without them knowing each other’s email addresses. By using these two features, you can ensure that your emails are handled respectfully and efficiently.