The Difference Between To, CC, and BCC in Email

To:

• This is for the main recipient(s) of your email.

• The people you put here are the ones you are directly addressing.

• Example: You email the building maintenance person asking for more copy paper. Their address goes in the To line.
  
  

CC (Carbon Copy):

• Used to keep others in the loop without addressing them directly.

• The CC’d people can see the email and all other recipients, but the message isn’t meant specifically for them.

• Example: When you email maintenance for more paper, you also CC the secretary so they’re aware you sent the request.
  
  

BCC (Blind Carbon Copy):

• Works like CC, but the recipients are hidden from everyone else.

• People in BCC can read the email, but no one else (not even the “To” and “CC” recipients) knows they got it.

• Useful for:

  • Copying your principal on an email to a parent, without the parent knowing.

  • Sending the same email to a group (like parents), while keeping addresses private so no one sees each other’s email. This also prevents “Reply All” chaos.
    
    

👉 Quick Rule of Thumb:

• To = Who the email is for

• CC = Who should be aware

• BCC = Who should be aware, but invisible