Carbon copy

Carbon Copy is a term that originates from the use of carbon paper to create an exact duplicate of a document. Today, it is commonly used in the context of email communication to refer to the practice of sending a copy of an email to one or more recipients in addition to the primary recipient.

History

The term carbon copy can be traced back to the 19th century when carbon paper was used to produce duplicate copies of a document. The carbon paper was placed between two sheets of paper and the pressure applied by writing or typing on the top sheet would cause the carbon on the underside to transfer to the bottom sheet, creating an exact copy of the original document.

Use in Email

In the context of email, a carbon copy (often abbreviated as cc) is a copy of a note sent to an addressee other than the main addressee. The use of the term in email is a direct reference to the older physical method of copying, as the function provides a way to send a "copy" of the email to someone else.

Etiquette

There are certain email etiquette rules associated with the use of carbon copy. It is generally considered polite to only use this function when the email contains information that is relevant to all recipients. Overuse or misuse of the carbon copy function can lead to email overload and can be seen as unprofessional.

See Also

• Blind carbon copy
• Email
• Email etiquette

References

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