Cc / Bcc

This guide explains how to access and use the CC (Carbon Copy) and BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) fields when composing emails in allowing you to send copies of your email to additional recipients while maintaining proper email etiquette and privacy.

Understanding CC and BCC Fields

When composing emails, you have three main recipient fields available:

• To: Primary recipients who are expected to respond or take action
• CC (Carbon Copy): Secondary recipients who should be kept informed but don't need to respond
• BCC (Blind Carbon Copy): Hidden recipients whose email addresses aren't visible to other recipients

Key Differences Between CC and BCC

The fundamental difference lies in visibility and privacy:

• CC recipients can see all other recipients' email addresses (To, CC, but not BCC)
• BCC recipients receive the email but remain hidden from all other recipients

When to Use CC vs BCC

Use CC When:

• Keeping supervisors or team members informed on project updates
• Including stakeholders who should be aware but don't need to respond
• Transparency is important and recipients knowing each other is acceptable

Use BCC When:

• Sending to multiple recipients who don't know each other
• Protecting recipient privacy and preventing reply-all chaos
• Sending mass communications like newsletters or announcements
• Quietly keeping someone informed without making it obvious

How to Access CC and BCC Fields

To access the CC and BCC fields in Gmail, start by opening the to create a new email. The CC and BCC fields are initially hidden to keep the interface clean.

1

In the compose window, locate and click on the Cc link. This is typically positioned to the right of the . Clicking this link will reveal the CC input field where you can add carbon copy recipients.

2

Click on the Bcc link to reveal the Blind Carbon Copy field. In Gmail, this link appears with the full text "Add Bcc recipients" and may include the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl-Shift-B). Once clicked, the BCC input field will appear below the CC field.

Email Etiquette Best Practices

CC Etiquette Guidelines

• Use CC sparingly - only include people who truly need the information
• Consider if CC recipients need to see others' email addresses before using CC
• Be mindful of reply-all scenarios when multiple people are CC'd

BCC Security and Privacy

• Use BCC for mass emails to protect recipient privacy and prevent unwanted reply-all responses
• Never include yourself in BCC unless you need a copy for record-keeping
• Be transparent when appropriate - if using BCC in professional settings, consider mentioning it in the email body

Technical Considerations

Email Delivery and Headers

Understanding how CC and BCC work at the technical level can help you make better decisions:

• CC addresses appear in the email headers and are visible to all recipients
• BCC addresses are stripped from headers before delivery to other recipients
• Each BCC recipient receives their own copy of the email with unique headers

Keyboard Shortcuts

Gmail provides keyboard shortcuts for efficient email composition:

• Ctrl+Shift+C: Add CC recipients
• Ctrl+Shift+B: Add BCC recipients

Common Use Cases and Examples

Professional Scenarios

Here are practical examples of when to use each field type:

• Project Update Email: Send to team member (To), CC project manager and stakeholders
• Client Communication: Send to client (To), CC internal team members to keep them informed
• Mass Announcement: Send to yourself (To), BCC all recipients to protect privacy

Troubleshooting Common Issues

CC and BCC Fields Not Appearing

If you can't see the CC or BCC options:

• Ensure you're in the compose window, not viewing an existing email
• Look for the "Cc" and "Bcc" links near the To field - they may be small
• Try expanding the compose window if it's minimized

Privacy Concerns

If you accidentally exposed email addresses:

• Send a follow-up email apologizing for the error
• Use BCC for future similar communications
• Consider asking recipients to delete the original email

Conclusion

Understanding how to properly use CC and BCC fields is essential for effective email communication. CC keeps stakeholders informed while maintaining transparency, while BCC protects recipient privacy and prevents reply-all overload. By following proper email etiquette and using these fields strategically, you can improve your professional communication and protect recipient privacy.

Practice using these fields thoughtfully - consider whether recipients need to see each other's addresses, if they need to respond, and whether transparency or privacy is more important for each situation. For more advanced email composition features, explore composing a new email with additional formatting and attachment options.