Communication via email hasn’t drastically changed in the past two decades since it was first popularized. The majority of the language we use today is exactly the same. We adapted many of the terms we use with an email from the time when we used paper mail. CC, as well as BCC, are great examples. What exactly does each one mean?
This article will go over email terminology and will help you understand why some of the features you see are.
What does CC mean?
The word CC means Carbon Copy. If you enter someone’s email address into this box, it will email an email copy to them. This is applicable to any email technology you’re using.
The word comes from the times when communicating via paper was a common practice. Everybody could make copies of documents by putting carbon papers between sheets of normal paper. When the pen was pressed on the top sheet the writing transferred to the lower one due to carbon paper. This enabled people to create and send copies in a short time.
Carbon copies of emails may not require carbon paper anymore however the concept remains the same. You will send copies of your email to different individuals. When someone asks you to contact them, they’ll want to see a replica of the message that you’re sending to the recipient. For instance, if you’re talking to a customer it might be beneficial to notify your manager.
What is BCC What Does BCC Mean?
BCC is a shorthand for blind carbon Copy and it functions just like CC but with a major distinction. When you CC someone those who received your email will be able to see who else has received the email. The person(s) that are listed in the “To” field and the “CC” field can see the other’s addresses. BCC is a way to add a layer of privacy. Only the sender is able to view the list. The BCC recipient is only able to see their email addresses in the BCC field, regardless of whether the sender has added more than one person to the list.
If privacy is needed when privacy is required, you can make use of the use BCC field. For instance, if you’re engaging in an email exchange with a customer, and you must tag your manager, it’s best to make sure to send a carbon copy that is blind. There’s no reason for the client to know that somebody else is informed.
Email Etiquette
If you’ve figured out the meaning of CC and BCC it’s likely that you’re thinking about why you’d make a CC instead of including everyone in the “To” field. In the past, everybody can view who was on the CC list. Technically speaking, CC isn’t more different from the regular “To” field. Why would you use it?
The answer is straightforward and that is: Etiquette. In the “To” area is only for your principal recipient(s). They are the ones who are directly affected by the subject of an email that you’ve sent. It is recommended to use”CC” in the “CC” option to forward a copy of the email to any other people who may be interested in the details either now or in the near future.
The CC feature is beneficial in situations where you want another person to be able to access the email in case they require it.
BCC is a good option to ensure that the recipient is in the dark about who else is receiving copies of the email. It’s also helpful when you have to send an email to an extensive list of recipients. It’s not necessary for everyone to see the dozens of email addresses that are attached to the email. Be aware that the recipient of BCC BCC is only able to view their address within the BCC field. Others remain in the dark.
But nothing is set in bricks and mortar. There aren’t any set rules. A lot of people and businesses may opt to use these fields of email in different ways.
Other Important Terms in Email You Should Be Using
There is a myriad of things using email, such as sending emails and making email groups However, you’ll need to understand the lingo to be able to access all the great options. Let’s look at the terminology more deeply.
Subject
The Subject field serves to inform the recipient of the contents of the email. The information should be summarized in a couple of words. This can also aid you in finding the email later, by sorting it by the subject.
Answer to All
Usually, you will reply to the sender by pressing your reply button. It also saves the original email, as well as the entire thread to keep it in your reach.
However, you do have the option of responding to everyone. This feature is useful when you’re on a CC list for your reply to everyone on the list.
Forward
Have you ever heard someone say “forward me” but you didn’t know what it was? The term “forward me” refers to the forward button. This feature lets you select any email that you received to send it to someone in addition to the original sender. This can save you a lot of time.
Spam
Email spam is a term used to describe junk mail. It’s content that has been uninvited by someone who has sent to you, along with thousands of other people who are members of the email lists. Each email service, such as Gmail or Outlook has a separate spam folder. However, it’s not always the case that spam messages appear in the folder automatically. In certain situations, you have to detect spam emails and remove them by hand.
Blocklist
In terms of spam, that’s the time when a blocklist can come to the rescue. Before it was referred to as a blacklist blocklist is simply the name of a list of blocked addresses. Certain senders are considered to be spammers. Your email provider will automatically add and include them on the blocklist, however, sometimes, you’ll need to remove the addresses by yourself.
We’re hoping that we’ve managed to get things straightened out and you’re better at managing your email. Make sure to not blend CC and BCC together when the circumstance calls for either.