CC vs. BCC: Who Sees What When You Hit Send

You are writing an email, and more than one person needs to get it. Under the “To” line sit two more options: CC and BCC. Pick the wrong one and you can hand thirty people’s email addresses to strangers, or leave out someone who needed to see the conversation.

Here is how each line works and when to use it.

What the three lines mean

To is for the people you are actually writing to. They are expected to read the message and usually to reply or do something.

CC stands for “carbon copy,” a term left over from paper letters. People on the CC line get the same email, and everyone can see that they got it. Use CC for someone who should know what is going on but does not need to act.

BCC stands for “blind carbon copy.” People on the BCC line get the email, but the other recipients cannot see their names or addresses. BCC recipients can still see who is on the To and CC lines.

One question to ask before you send

Should everyone on this email be able to see everyone else’s address?

1. If yes, and the person needs to answer or act, put them in To.
2. If yes, and the person only needs to stay informed, put them in CC.
3. If no, put them in BCC.

When to use CC

• You want a manager, teammate, or roommate kept in the loop.
• You want the main recipient to know who else is following along.

Anyone on the To or CC line is included when someone clicks Reply All, so they stay in the conversation.

When to use BCC

• You are sending one message to a group of people who do not know each other, such as a club announcement or a moving-sale notice.
• The list is large and you do not want a Reply All pileup.

BCC keeps each person’s address private. BCC recipients also do not get Reply All responses, so any reply comes back only to you and the visible recipients.

A simple way to do it: put your own address in To and everyone else in BCC.

A worked example

This is a fictional example.

Maya’s heater stops working. She emails her landlord and wants her roommate, Dev, to see the conversation.

• To: the landlord, because he needs to act.
• CC: Dev, because he only needs to stay informed. The landlord can see that Dev is included.

A month later, Maya plans a building potluck and emails 25 neighbors. Most of them have never met.

• To: Maya’s own address.
• BCC: all 25 neighbors. Each one gets the invitation, and nobody’s address is shared with the building.

A common mistake

Using BCC to quietly let someone watch a tense conversation. If the hidden person clicks Reply All, their answer can land in front of people who never knew they were included. Some email apps also tell BCC recipients that they were BCC’d, so they know it was done quietly.

If someone needs to see a message you sent, forward it to them afterward with a short note. If they should be part of the conversation, use CC so everyone knows.

Do this today

Open your email app and start a new message. Find the CC and BCC lines. Some apps tuck them behind a small arrow or an options menu. Now you know where they are the next time you email a group, and you know the one question to ask before you hit send.

Keep building your email skills: Email Etiquette in the Workplace: Tips for Professional Communication