“CC’ed to the team.” Being someone from the corporate world, you must have heard this phrase many times. But are you someone who is curious to know more about email and wants to know how to cc in Gmail?


Learning email etiquette isn’t just part of work anymore; it’s a necessity these days. Proper email etiquette can decide between deals won or lost.


This blog covers all the essentials you should know about CC in Gmail.


Let’s first get a basic understanding of CC.


What is cc?


CC is the short form of Carbon Copy. It is used when you want a person to be informed but don’t expect them to reply.


It was named after the carbon copy paper people used years back. By placing a sheet of carbon paper between two pages, whatever was written on the first page would automatically get copied onto the second one. That’s how the term “carbon copy” came into existence.


Today, while the physical use of carbon paper has faded, the concept lives on digitally in emails.


CC is usually used more in professional settings where everyone knows each other and is connected to the topic of the email.


Read Also: Virtual Meeting Etiquette: A Guide to Professional Online Interactions


How is CC different from Bcc and To


You must be wondering, “Why cc when we have To and BCC options?”


  • To is written for a primary recipient, someone who is usually obligated to reply to that email.

  • BCC or Blind Carbon Copy is used to hide the recipient's address from others usually due to privacy reasons. It is preferred when sending mass emails or newsletters to the members.

  • CC: It is for the secondary recipient, whose address can be seen by anyone including the primary and other Cc recipients. Generally, Cc recipients aren’t expected to reply to the email; they are simply kept in the loop. If the original sender or other recipients use “Reply All” in that thread, all Cc recipients will continue to receive all follow-on emails while Bcc recipients will NOT be included in the replies.

How to CC in Gmail (Step-by-Step Guide)


Now, let’s look at how to CC in Gmail with just a few clicks.


  • Step 1: Sign in to your Gmail account.

  • Step 2: On the left side, click the Compose button to start a new email.

  • Step 3: A window will open. In the top section (where you type addresses), you’ll see To and, on the right, the options for CC and BCC.

  • Step 4: Click CC and enter the email addresses of the people you want to include.

  • Step 5: Write the subject and body of the email, then send it.

Pro Tip: You can also press Ctrl + Shift + C (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + C (Mac) to directly open the CC field.


Uses of CC


We have gone through what CC is, its differences, and how to CC in Gmail. But when should you use the CC option?


CC plays a very significant role in any corporate sector; let’s discuss how:


  • Authority figure: You might CC your manager or any supervisor, as it keeps them informed of what’s happening or for their guidance, even without them being an active recipient. It also lets others know that this email should be handled more professionally.

  • New member: When you are introducing a new member to the team, you might prefer CC so that they can be connected to their team members and their team leaders whenever needed.

  • Updating team: Many times, even outside a professional setting, people might use CC to update their teammates on any product or strategy updates.

  • Transparency: Through CC, you let other people know who is being informed. It encourages transparency among the team members.

  • Courtesy: It can also be used to show visibility to a peer who worked along with you on a project. It shows their contribution to the client or the manager.

When not to use cc?


You also need to understand the situations when using CC isn’t the most ideal. Some of them are written below:


  • Sensitive information: When someone is sending sensitive information using CC to someone else without the knowledge of the primary recipient, then it can be a breach of privacy.

  • Expecting response: If you want the recipient to respond to your email, then sending them the email through CC isn’t a wise idea, as the whole concept of CC is that the recipient isn’t obliged to reply to that message.

  • Mass email: If you are sending mass emails because of your marketing campaign or newsletter, then you should not use CC but BCC in this case, because usually people prefer their email address to be something private.

  • Security: Using CC for sensitive information can be risky, as someone who is not concerned with the piece of information can forward it to others.

Can we use To, BCC, and CC all together?


Yes, you can use To, BCC, and CC all together, depending on the recipients’ visibility and response needs.


Imagine you work in a marketing firm, and you are sending an email to a client. You will put their email in the To section, and you want your manager to be informed too, so you will put them in the CC section. You might also have to keep your director in the loop too, and they don’t want themselves to be shown, so you will enter their address in the BCC section.


You are free to use them in any way you want, but you need to be aware of their proper usage.


Conclusion


CC in Gmail might look like a small task, but everyone should know about the basic etiquettes of how to use CC in Gmail. Even being considered a very basic task, a minor mistake in it can make people form an impression about you before a deal is signed. Whether you want to inform your manager, keep colleagues updated, or simply share information, CC helps ensure everyone stays on the same page.


So, the next time you send someone an email, make sure to truly understand who needs to be in the CC section, as using this correctly can present you as more professional and expert.