Carbon copy and blind carbon copy let you send the same email to multiple people, but they work differently
Carbon copy (CC) sends a copy of your email to someone, and everyone who receives the message can see that person's email address in the CC field. Blind carbon copy (BCC) sends a copy to someone without showing their address to anyone else on the email — not to the main recipient, not to other CC'd people, and not to other BCC'd people.
The names come from old office practice. Before email, when you typed a letter and wanted copies, you'd use carbon paper between sheets. A "carbon copy" meant everyone could see the copy was made. A "blind" copy meant the original recipient didn't know a copy existed.
Most email programs — Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo — work the same way. You'll find CC and BCC fields right next to the "To" field when you're writing a message. The choice between them changes who knows who received the email.
Key Takeaways
- CC shows the copied recipient's address to everyone on the email, so use it when transparency matters or when people need to know others are involved.
- BCC hides the copied recipient from everyone else, so use it when you want someone to see the message without others knowing they received it.
- You can CC or BCC multiple people by separating their addresses with commas, and they still won't see each other's addresses if they're in the BCC field.
- Replying to a BCC'd email goes only to the original sender unless the BCC'd person manually adds everyone else to their reply.
When to use carbon copy
Use CC when you want everyone to know that someone else is receiving the message. This is the transparent choice. If you're emailing a client about a project and you CC your manager, the client sees your manager is looped in. If you're asking a question in a work email and you CC a colleague who might have the answer, everyone knows that colleague is involved.
CC is standard for keeping people informed without making them the main recipient. You might CC your landlord on an email to a repair company so they know you've reported the problem. You might CC a teacher on an email to a school administrator so the teacher knows what you've said. The CC'd person gets the full message and can reply to everyone if they choose.
One thing to remember: if someone is CC'd, they can see everyone else who is CC'd, and they can see who the main recipient is. There's no privacy in the CC field — it's visible to all.
When to use blind carbon copy
Use BCC when you need to send the same message to someone without others knowing they received it. This is the private choice. If you're sending a newsletter to 50 people, you'd put all 50 addresses in the BCC field so each person receives the email but can't see the other 49 addresses. This protects everyone's privacy and prevents "reply all" chaos.
BCC is also useful when you're forwarding a message to someone for their information but don't want the original sender to know. If a coworker sends you an email and you want your manager to see it without the coworker knowing, BCC your manager. The manager gets the message, but the coworker won't see their address anywhere.
Be careful with BCC in professional settings. Using it to secretly copy someone can feel deceptive if discovered. It's appropriate for newsletters, group announcements, and protecting privacy, but less appropriate for hiding someone's involvement in a conversation where they should be transparent.
How to add people to CC or BCC in different email programs
In Gmail, click "Compose" to start a new email. You'll see the "To" field. Click the small arrow or the word "CC" next to it to reveal both CC and BCC fields. Type the email addresses directly into whichever field you need.
In Outlook (web or desktop), click "New Message." The CC and BCC fields are usually visible right away below the "To" field. If you don't see them, click "CC" or look for a small arrow that expands more options.
In Apple Mail, start a new message. Go to the "View" menu at the top and select "Show BCC Field" if it's not already visible. Both CC and BCC fields will then appear in your compose window.
In Yahoo Mail, click "Compose." The CC and BCC fields appear below the "To" field by default. If they're hidden, click the small arrow next to "To" to expand them.
What happens when someone replies to a CC'd or BCC'd email
If someone clicks "Reply All" on an email where you used CC, the reply goes to the original sender, everyone in the CC field, and everyone in the To field. The CC'd person is now part of the conversation thread. This is useful when you want the CC'd person to stay involved in the back-and-forth.
If someone replies to an email where you used BCC, the reply goes only to the original sender — not to the BCC'd person. The BCC'd person was included in that one message only and is not part of any replies unless the original sender manually adds them later. This is why BCC is good for one-way communications like newsletters.
If a BCC'd person wants to reply to everyone, they have to manually type in all the addresses themselves. They can't just hit "Reply All" because they don't know who else received the message.
Common mistakes with CC and BCC
The biggest mistake is putting someone in CC when you meant BCC, or vice versa. Always double-check before you hit send. If you're sending a newsletter to many people, BCC protects their privacy. If you're looping someone into a work conversation, CC is usually right.
Another mistake is forgetting that CC'd people can see the entire recipient list. If you CC someone, everyone else on the email knows that person is there. Don't use CC to secretly include someone — that's what BCC is for, though use it carefully.
A third mistake is using BCC in a back-and-forth conversation. If you BCC someone on the first message, they won't be included in replies, and the conversation will continue without them. BCC works best for one-time messages, not ongoing threads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I CC or BCC myself?
Yes. Some people BCC themselves on emails to keep a copy in their sent folder, though most email programs do this automatically. You can CC yourself if you want to appear as a recipient, though this is rarely necessary.
If I BCC someone, can they see who else is on the email?
No. A BCC'd person sees only the original message. They don't see the To field, the CC field, or any other BCC'd addresses. They know they received the email, but they don't know who else did.
What's the difference between CC and just putting someone in the To field?
Putting someone in the To field makes them a primary recipient — the email is addressed to them. CC makes them a secondary recipient — they're included for information. The message reads differently depending on who's in To versus CC, and replies behave differently too.
Is it rude to CC someone without asking?
It depends on context. In professional settings, CC is normal and expected — you loop people in to keep them informed. In personal emails, CC'ing someone without warning can feel like you're involving them without permission. When in doubt, ask first or mention it in the message.
Can I remove someone from a CC or BCC field after I send the email?
No. Once you send an email, it's gone. You can't edit the recipient list or remove someone's address from a message that's already in their inbox. If you made a mistake, your only option is to send a follow-up email explaining the error.