What is the difference between CC and Bcc in email? – Easy Steps

A standard email compose window has a To field, a Sender field, and a subject field. You can also see two other fields: CC and Bcc. These two fields are not required fields, that is, you can send an email without completing them, and they can often be hidden in the default user interface.

CC y BCC

The CC and Bcc fields are fields for entering an email or multiple emails. When you send a message, everyone in the To, CC, and Bcc fields will receive it.

CC stands for Carbon Copy and BCC stands for Blind Carbon Copy. If you’re not sure what carbon copy means, it’s a term coined from a real-world relic; carbon paper. Carbon paper is paper, coated in ink (which will stain your hands and everything else it comes in contact with). It is inserted between two papers. Writes on the top paper and is automatically copied to the bottom paper courtesy of carbon paper.

It is important to know that CC and BCC do not send separate messages. The same message, the same thread, is sent to everyone.

Difference between CC and BCC

The email addresses that are entered in the CC field are visible to everyone else to whom the message is sent. If you CC someone in an email, the recipients that were added in the To field will be able to see everyone listed in the CC field.

The email addresses that are entered in the Bcc field are not visible to anyone. They are ‘blind’ or hidden. If you want to send an email to someone, but also include someone else in the recipient list without other people knowing, the Bcc field is the tool for the job.

Email etiquette: CC usage

There are no laws or deeds on the use of CC and BCC. However, there is an email etiquette that you must follow when using these fields. If you don’t, you will make enemies at work.

The CC field should be used when;

• You want to keep someone informed about something, but that doesn’t require a response from them.
• You feel that the message is something the person may need to know at some point.
• A mutual supervisor
• Supervisor / manager for you and the other person, if you work in different departments / sections. This is best used if the supervisor / manager requires documentation of when work is assigned between departments.

When not to use CC;

• To keep a supervisor informed when not necessary.
• To use the message as documentation of the work you are doing
• To prove a point

Contradictory use of CC;

You should not use CC unnecessarily and include people in messages when they do not need to be included. That said, if you suspect a coworker isn’t going to follow up on something unless a supervisor is included in the message, you can add that as well.

You should also use it if a manager demands proof that you are working.

Email Etiquette: Using BCC

Using BCC basically means that you are ‘telling’ someone. Use this with caution. No one knows who else got the message when you add people to the Bcc field. Think of it as secretly recording a meeting or allowing someone to listen in on it.

BCC should be used sparingly and carefully. There will be a time when you will need to use it and it will be obvious when you need to. Other than that, don’t include Bcc people in emails. Instead, use the CC field.

conclusion

The Bcc field is hidden so that no one knows you used it. The CC field is not hidden and its use will be obvious. Recipients will know if they were added to the Cc or Bcc field. Make sure people who don’t care about BCC end up using the Reply All button.