Adding a CC (carbon copy) in Gmail is a simple task that involves including other recipients in your email without making them the primary recipient. This way, they can stay in the loop without being directly addressed. Let’s dive into how you can achieve this in a few easy steps.
Step by Step Tutorial: How to CC in Gmail
Before we get into the steps, let’s understand what this process will achieve. CC’ing someone in an email allows them to see the correspondence without being the main person you’re communicating with. This is useful in professional settings where multiple people need to be aware of the information being shared.
Step 1: Compose your email
Start by clicking the "Compose" button to create a new email.
In this step, you’ll open up a new email draft. This is where you’ll write your message just like you would any other email. The ‘Compose’ button is usually located in the top-left corner when you log into your Gmail account.
Step 2: Find the CC field
Look for the "CC" link next to the "To" field at the top of your email draft.
Once you have your draft open, the "To" field is where you would normally type the email address of your primary recipient. Right next to that field, you’ll find a small link that says "CC." If you can’t see it, you might need to click on the recipient field or start typing an email address to make it appear.
Step 3: Enter the email addresses
Click on "CC" and enter the email addresses of the people you want to CC.
After clicking the "CC" link, a new field will open up where you can type in the email addresses of the people you want to include as CC’ed recipients. You can add multiple email addresses here, just separate them with commas.
Step 4: Send your email
Finish composing your email and hit "Send" to send it to all recipients, including those CC’ed.
Once you’ve entered the CC’ed recipients and finished writing your email, all that’s left to do is hit the "Send" button. This will send your email to both your primary recipient and those you’ve included in the CC field.
After you send your email with CC’ed recipients, everyone included will receive the email. The primary recipient will be aware that others have been CC’ed, and those in the CC field will be able to read the email and any subsequent replies if ‘Reply All’ is used.
Tips for How to CC in Gmail
- Always double-check the email addresses you enter in the CC field to avoid any privacy breaches.
- Use CC judiciously; not everyone needs to be included in every email.
- Remember that CC’ed recipients can see each other’s email addresses, so consider if this is appropriate for your communication.
- When replying to an email with CC’ed recipients, decide whether to use ‘Reply’ or ‘Reply All’ based on who needs to see your response.
- Be aware of ‘CC etiquette’ in professional settings; unnecessary CC’ing can be seen as cluttering others’ inboxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between CC and BCC?
CC stands for carbon copy, and BCC stands for blind carbon copy. When you CC someone, all other recipients can see they’ve been CC’ed. With BCC, other recipients can’t see who’s been included.
Can I remove a CC’ed recipient after sending an email?
No, once an email is sent, you cannot change the recipients. Always check before sending your email.
Is there a limit to how many people I can CC in Gmail?
Gmail allows up to 500 recipients in total per email, including To, CC, and BCC.
Can I CC someone in a reply?
Yes, you can add a CC recipient when replying to an email by clicking the "CC" field and entering their email address.
Will CC’ed recipients see replies?
Yes, if ‘Reply All’ is used, CC’ed recipients will see all replies. If ‘Reply’ is used, only the original sender will see the response.
Summary
- Compose your email.
- Find the CC field.
- Enter the email addresses.
- Send your email.
Conclusion
CC’ing in Gmail is a breeze once you know the ropes. Whether you’re keeping a coworker in the loop or ensuring everyone on your team is up to speed, this feature is a staple in email communication. Just remember to use it wisely to maintain email etiquette and avoid cluttering others’ inboxes. The key to mastering how to CC in Gmail is understanding when and why to include others in your email conversations. With our step-by-step tutorial and handy tips, you’re now equipped to use this feature like a pro. Happy emailing!
Matthew Burleigh has been a freelance writer since the early 2000s. You can find his writing all over the Web, where his content has collectively been read millions of times.
Matthew received his Master’s degree in Computer Science, then spent over a decade as an IT consultant for small businesses before focusing on writing and website creation.
The topics he covers for MasterYourTech.com include iPhones, Microsoft Office, and Google Apps.
You can read his full bio here.