Carbon Copying in Electronic Mail

Definition and Purpose

The practice involves sending a copy of an email message to one or more recipients in addition to the primary recipient(s) indicated in the "To" field. The purpose is to inform these individuals about the content of the message without requiring them to take direct action. This ensures visibility and shared awareness regarding the communication.

Technical Implementation

The recipient addresses included are visible to all recipients of the message, including those in the "To" and "Cc" fields. This transparency differs from another related function, "Bcc" (Blind Carbon Copy).

Common Use Cases

• Information Dissemination: Keeping supervisors or team members informed about project updates or discussions.
• Record Keeping: Maintaining a record of correspondence for future reference.
• Seeking Approval: Including a manager or relevant authority for oversight or approval on a particular matter.

Etiquette and Best Practices

It is generally considered polite to notify the primary recipient if you are sending a to a third party and to use discretion when including recipients, ensuring their involvement is relevant to the message's content. Overuse can lead to inbox overload and decreased efficiency.

Comparison with "To" and "Bcc" Fields

• "To" field: Designates the primary recipient(s) who are expected to take action or respond to the message.
• "Cc" field: Designates secondary recipients who are being informed.
• "Bcc" field: Designates recipients whose addresses are hidden from all other recipients. This is typically used when sending an email to a large group of people to protect their privacy or to prevent "reply all" storms.