When it comes to sending emails, distinguishing between cc and bcc is imperative. The wrong recipient format may result in particularly embarrassing situations. The difference between the two, while closely related, can be night and day. When sending emails, you may wish to send identical copies to multiple recipients. This can be particularly useful when it comes to sending out a mailing list or informing your office or team about recent changes or upcoming projects.
A Way to Communicate
Do you remember working with carbon paper to produce copies of forms? That’s what the term ‘cc’ is supposed to denote. Cc literally stands for carbon copy. Once you send out an email with multiple recipients in the cc field of your email, they’ll all receive a copy of the email. The thing to keep in mind is that all recipients of the email will be able to see who else received the email. This can be useful when you’d like to establish something of a conference chat over email.
But if you’re looking to keep the identities of your recipients secret, cc may not be for you. Still, cc can make it easier for you and other people to verify who actually got the email. Cc works best when you’re sending an email to a small, manageable group of about six people or less. Use cc for school projects, team projects, and for when you’d like to send an email to multiple friends or family members.
When to Use Bcc
Bcc works the same as cc. Every person who’s entered into the bcc field will receive a copy of the email. However, the ‘b’ in ‘bcc’ denotes that this is a “blind” copy. All recipients of the email will be unable to see who else received the email. This can be preferable for a number of reasons. For one, you may want to conceal and protect the identities of your recipients. If you have over ten recipients of one email, bcc can help ensure that your recipients aren’t dealing with a giant, overwhelming list of emails they’ll have to sort through before even being able to read the email. Bcc, in this regard, can often appear to be more professional. As such, it’s advised for anyone who’s sending out company-wide emails or otherwise needs to update a large group of people about certain events or policies.
Understanding whether to use cc or bcc is key to sending effective emails and minimizing potential confusion. Cc should be reserved for more personal emails and conversations, while bcc is key for formal, professional, and discreet communications. Make sure you understand the difference between both. Sending email copies can save time, confusion, and effort when it comes to making sure everyone’s on the same page.